"Operation Puff Adder" missing in action as kidnappers take over Abuja-Kaduna highway

The much celebrated “Operation Puff Adder”, which was launched by the Inspector General of Police earlier this month, to combat kidnapping on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, has been missing in action and was totally deactivated on Monday by kidnappers.

The kidnappers, on Monday, afternoon blocked the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, forcing several motorists to abandon their vehicles and head for nearby bushes to avoid being abducted.

The development has left many motorists and passengers unaccounted for just as their belongings were carted away by the kidnappers.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who narrowly escaped the attack by the kidnappers reported that the incident happened a few kilometres to Katari village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state at about 3.30pm.

Hundreds of motorists traveling from Kaduna to Abuja as well as those going the other way found themselves stranded for more than 40 minutes as both lanes of the express way were blocked by cars hastily abandoned by their owners.

The bandits left the scene of the incident and moved into the bush with some of their victims before the arrival of some security men, who later cleared the road for the motorists to continue on their journeys.

Commenting on the incident, owner of the popular Shagalinku Restaurant in Abuja, Alhaji Umar Shagalinku, lauded the prompt intervention of the security personnel.

He, however, called on relevant security authorities to use modern technology including helicopters to track kidnappers.

“I have been hearing about this robbery and kidnapping along Kaduna – Abuja road but today I witnessed – this is terrible and ungodly.

“I sincerely pray that authorities concerned will do something about these criminals so that motorists will feel safe while plying this important road,” he said.

The same bandits operated on the same highway Sunday, April 28.