By Hassan Zaggi
The Nigeria Police has arrested a 5-man trans-border kidnapping syndicate that operates between Adamawa state and Cameroun.
The Force Intelligence Bureau Special Tactical Squad (FIB-STS) operatives made the arrest following directives by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to clampdown on the perpetrators of crimes and criminality, as well as cutting off their supply of arms.
This is even as the operatives have equally arrested the gang that kidnapped the students of the Greenfield University in Kaduna and killed some of them after collecting ransom.
While parading the suspects in Abuja, Wednesday, the Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi (CSP), said that the gang which specializes in trans-border kidnap include Abubakar Mohammed, 28 years; Shehu Mohammed, 38 years; Abdullahi Ali, 30 years; Abubakar Ali, 18 years; and Hussaini Sule, 18 years.
The Force Spokesman disclosed that all the gang members were from Mubi, Adamawa State, and that they always target wealthy individuals who possess beautiful houses or cars.
“They confessed to the kidnap and multiple rape of a newly wedded woman at Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno state whom they released upon receipt of a million naira ransom.
“They were apprehended by operatives of the FIB-STS after collecting a ransom of 2 million naira for one Alhaji Moni of Buladega village on May 11, 2022,” Adejobi said.
He further revealed that operatives of the FIB-STS equally apprehended the duo of Umar Muhammed from Mitchika in Adamawa State, and Musa Buba from Hong in the same state, who are famous for their kidnapping activities.
They were arrested at the market, upon credible intelligence that they would be there to buy food items for their kidnap victims.
The suspects further confessed to many heinous crimes including the killing and beheading of one Alhaji Mai Gome, even after ransom payment had been made.
Speaking on the arrest of the kidnappers of the Green Field university students, CSP Adejobi said that “the duo of Aminu Lawal (aka Kano), and Murtala Dawu (aka Mugala), both working in synergy with the kidnap kingpin known as Yellow Ashana, confessed to the kidnap of students from the Greenfield University in Kaduna State, and the mindless murder of five victims before the payment of ransom, and eventual release of the others.”
They also confessed to have kidnapped and murder two police officers and one vigilante in 2021.
Intelligence, according to Force Spokesman, showed that their area of operations include Dan Hunu, Kekebi, Dan Busha Rido, Maraban Rido, and Kumi Sata, all in Kaduna State.
The FIB-STS operatives, he revealed caught up with them in March, 2022, after being on their trail upon the mention of their names in connection to the kidnapping of Bethel Baptist School students in 2021.
The FIB-STS, the Force Spokesman, said also recovered 61 firearms including 41 AK rifles, 8 Type 06 rifles, 4 Light Assault Rifles (LAR), 4 pump action guns, 2 locally made firearms, 1 G3 rifle, 1 dane gun, 376 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, and two million naira cash from the suspects in the course of investigations.
The IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, has, however, applauded the FIB-STS operatives for the achievement and vowed that all criminal elements will be arrested and made answer to their crimes in due course.
