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The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Abdulmajid Ali, disclosed this on Friday two days after the security operatives battled the terrorists.
Ali, who revealed that 13 others suffered critical injuries, said they were already receiving treatment at different hospitals in the Kaduna State capital.
Speaking during a visit to one of the medical facilities, the DIG was pleased that the injured officers were stable and responding to treatment.
He stressed that not even the casualty on the side of the police would deter the force from crushing the bandits from their hideouts in all parts of the country.
According to the DIG, the Force is currently executing about 50 operations in the North-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria.
He explained that the operations were aimed at flushing out members of the terrorist group and other criminal elements from their camps.
On Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the police “successfully neutralised over 250 high-profile members.”
He noted that the operation was carried out following actionable intelligence linking terror and criminal elements in the camp to a series of terror-related violence, kidnappings, gun-running, cattle rustling, and other heinous crimes in the country.
Mba had confirmed that the bandits attacked a police bell helicopter, which provided aerial and intelligence cover for the ground troops, using sophisticated anti-aircraft rifles and GPMG.
Amid the reports that the aircraft was shot down by the bandits, the police spokesman said, “Commendably, the pilot and the co-pilot who demonstrated uncommon courage and expertise, successfully landed the aircraft at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna without further incident.”
The Police had in a statement on Thursday said despite the successes of the operation, one Inspector Muhammed Abubakar attached to the Police Special Forces regrettably died as a result of injuries sustained in the heat of the combat.
“As a member of the Special Forces, he participated in several successful Police operations and joint missions with the military in the fight against insurgency both in and outside the North-eastern part of the country”.
Thirteen other officers (made up of 2 SPs, 1 DSP, 4 Inspectors and 6 Sergeants) including the Pilot and Co-pilot of the Police helicopter, sustained different degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
The Police condoled with the family, friends, and professional colleagues of the late officer, the IGP restates the commitment of the Force to the safety of its personnel and the nation.
