…nab suspect for handing over cousin to kidnappers
By Hassan Zaggi
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested two suspects linked to the abduction of a Catholic Priest in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
While parading the suspects in Abuja, Tuesday, the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, also paraded 48-year-old Abubakar Haliru of Zaria Local Government Area in Kaduna State, who lured his cousin- Binta Mohammed and handed her over to his kidnap gang members in Galadimawa forest in Kaduna State.
Binta, CP Mba disclosed, narrowly escaped from the kidnap gang and thereafter contacted the Police before her eventual rescue.
Investigations revealed that Haliru and his gang members are in the habit of taking advantage of family ties to deceive and abduct family members.
Also paraded were over 40 criminals who were arrested in connection to different offences.
Speaking on the arrest of the abductors of the Catholic Priest, CP Mba said the suspects, Abubakar Usman and Salisu Abdullahi, were arrested by the Police team following intense intelligence-led operations to unravel, arrest and bring to book, the criminal gang responsible for a series of related high-profile kidnap operations in Kaduna State.
According to him, investigations by the Police Team revealed how the arrested principal suspects masterminded and led other gang members to carry out the dastardly act.
“One GPMG and 3 AK47 rifles were recovered from the suspects while effort is still ongoing to arrest other members of the gang,” Mba said.
The Force Spokesman further revealed that three ex-convicts, Abel Nanfa, Nankum Wazhi, and Jonah Patrick, were also arrested in Plateau State for their involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car theft within the Jos metropolis.
According to him, investigations revealed that the suspects, after serving their jail term, returned to their nefarious activities before nemesis caught up with them.
The suspects were arrested while trading a Toyota corolla vehicle which they snatched at gun point from one of their victims in Jos.
One AK47 rifle, one berretta pistol and 21 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, has assured that the Force remains committed to cracking down on criminal networks, mopping-up illicit weapons in the hands of criminal elements and generally working toward enhancing public safety in the country.
“The IGP also urged citizens to continue to provide useful information to the police to aid in the crime fighting efforts,” CP Mba said.
