Gunmen flee as NDLEA foils Kaduna-Zaria highway robbery

NDLEA boss, Marwa. Photo: File

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have foiled an armed robbery attack on the Kaduna-Zaria Highway after engaging suspected gunmen in a shootout, forcing them to flee and abandon several vehicles and articulated trucks.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred around 3am on Saturday after the suspected robbers mounted a roadblock along the highway and began attacking motorists.

A senior NDLEA official, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to journalists, said the operatives responded to a distress call from one of the victims who escaped from the attackers.

According to the official, the victim alerted the operatives stationed nearby, prompting them to move in and confront the suspected robbers.

“Our men responded immediately after receiving the distress call. They engaged the armed men in a gun duel and successfully repelled the attack,” he said.

The official added that the swift intervention prevented the suspected robbers from abducting any of their victims.

“Fortunately, nobody was kidnapped during the incident. Our men arrived in time, confronted the attackers and forced them to abandon their operation and flee,” he said.

He disclosed that the incident occurred four days before a video showing the aftermath of the encounter circulated on social media on Monday.

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The footage, obtained by The PUNCH Metro, showed several vehicles and articulated trucks abandoned along the highway, with some of the trucks’ engines still running but without drivers or passengers.

NDLEA operatives were also seen patrolling the area and inspecting the abandoned vehicles and belongings.

In the video, one of the officers, speaking in Hausa, said the suspected robbers had fled following the arrival of the agency’s operatives.

“They have fled. Look at these people’s belongings,” the officer said.

Another officer was heard directing his colleagues to gather the abandoned belongings and load them into a truck for recovery.

When contacted, the Kaduna State NDLEA Public Relations Officer, Sani Garba, promised to provide details after making enquiries but had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful, as he could not be reached by telephone.