The first phase of Operation Adder II has been deployed to Niger state to rescue the abducted victims and dislodge bandits from their abode across the state.

Flagging off the special troops in Minna, the Niger state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Usman said that the special security troops will reinforce the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

He said that the police will embark on the well-planned deployment of four units of Police Mobile Force and Special Forces alongside other operational assets to prime local government areas in the state.

He expressed optimism for rescuing the abducted victims very soon as the state no longer has any complaint of lack of personnel like it did in the past.

“We will deploy them to all the areas to all the red flag points. We had problems with inadequate personnel in the past but that is no longer a problem with the coming of these troops. They will be deployed to Munya, Shiroro, Mariga and the Lapai-Agaie axis.”

The Commissioner of Police said that the operation Puff Adder II will be intelligence-led and community-driven adding that their operations will be executed in sustained collaborate with the Armed forces, the intelligence community and other sister security agencies.

“We are also using the locals. We have mobilised the vigilantes and the police will work with the vigilantes.”

Speaking about the abducted students and other victims, Adamu said that all abducted persons are still with their abductors but the security agencies are working tirelessly to bring them back.

“The abducted victims are still there, we are trying to reinforce and with the deployment of this special deployment troop, we will rescue the victims.

“Everything is being properly handled. We are have deployed troops to where they are, we know what is happening and we are monitoring them.

“We have a lot of personnel in the area both land and air. This reinforcement will also assist and go a long way in this way in ensuring that we rescue the victims.”

Niger state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso appreciated the President for their prompt response to the predicament currently faced in the state.

He expressed optimism that the deployment of Operations Puff Adder II will go a long way towards restoring the peace and safety of people and properties in the state.

He assured the people of their safety adding that efforts are ongoing to ensure that all the abducted victims would be rescued without harm.

“The security forces are gathering all the information that will lead to the rescue. We hope that within the next possible time the people will be rescued unharmed.”

He assured the special operations troops of the support of the state government, “the government will support them because we want their morale to be high, we will give them all the necessary support and information to enable them to have a successful operation.”

TheNation