Two armed robbers were killed and two others arrested during a joint operation by operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command and military personnel in the early hours of Tuesday.
The operation followed a robbery incident at Gashash Estate in the Barnawa area of Kaduna, where eight armed men invaded a residential compound and stole valuables including mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, gaming consoles, and jewellery.
Police spokesperson DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement on Wednesday, said the command received a distress call at about 3:10 a.m., prompting an immediate response from the Divisional Police Officer of Barnawa. Reinforcements from the Kakuri and Sabon Tasha divisions, along with soldiers from the 312 Artillery Regiment, Kalapanzi, joined the operation.
The suspects were tracked to Makera Main Road in Kakuri, where they engaged the security operatives in a gun battle.
Two of the robbers were killed in the exchange, while two others were apprehended.
The rest of the gang fled the scene.
Items recovered from the suspects include a locally made pistol, ammunition, and several sharp weapons, as well as seven mobile phones, two laptops, three wristwatches, two PlayStation consoles, and assorted jewellery.
One police officer sustained injuries during the operation and is receiving treatment at the police clinic.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, praised the swift and coordinated response of the security forces and acknowledged the support of the Department of State Services and other agencies in maintaining public safety.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating crime and urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious activity promptly.