By Hassan Zaggi
One of the attackers of the convoy of the Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, have been arrested.
Recall that the popular cleric was attacked sometimes in October 2022, leading to the killing of seven persons including three police officers.
The attack was said to have occurred around the Auchi area of Edo State, South-South Nigeria.
While parading the suspect in Abuja, Thursday, the Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi (CSP), disclosed that the suspect- 32-years-old Yusuf Ismael Isah, is a plumber from Okene, Kogi State.
According to the Force Spokesman, investigations revealed that the suspect was part of the 7-man gang that launched a fatal attack on the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, along Benin – Auchi road, wherein 6 people, including 3 police officers, were gruesomely murdered.
“Intelligence revealed that the 7-man syndicate has been actively involved in kidnapping operations within Edo State and its environs and have carried out about 4 kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, before the gang was eventually busted by the Police.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspect upon his arrest in Ondo State include 5 AK47 Rifles, 2 K2 Assault Rifles, 180 Rounds of Live Ammunition, 4 suspected locally made IEDs, 1 pistol, and 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” the Force Spokesman said.
CSP Adejobi further revealed that in the past 2 months, the police arrested 1,412 suspects for various violent crimes including 548 suspects for armed robbery, 242 suspects for kidnapping, 365 suspects for murder/homicide, and 237 suspects for rape/defilement.
Notably, he said, 350 illicit firearms, and 4,055 ammunition of various calibers were equally recovered from across the country within the period under review.
On the other hand, he said, 113 kidnap suspects were rescued unhurt and re-united with their families.
According to the Force Spokesman, 5 suspects were apprehended in Abuja for conspiracy and kidnapping.
The suspects – Emu Larry Chidiebere, 34, Samuel Balogun, 22, Williams Banjo , 28, Babatunde Femi, 30, and Nneka Opara, 32, were arrested for kidnapping a foreign national and obtaining a ransom of 2000 Dollars from his relatives.
He explained that the suspects held the victim hostage in an apartment from May 30, 2023 to June 2, 2023. The suspects took pictures of the victim and forwarded the pictures and threat messages to the girlfriend of the victim in Zurich, who eventually sent them the sum of 2000 dollars via Western Union on June 1, 2023.
Additionally, the Police has sustained a continuous assault on the camps of some non-state actors in the South-East enforcing an illegal sit at home order particularly in Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi States.
In Enugu, he said, 4 suspects were neutralized following a gun duel with operatives of the Force on Friday 7th July, 2023 while 1 AK47 with 19 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 2 molotov cocktails were recovered.
In Ebonyi, however, 17 suspects were arrested following a raid on the hideout of secessionist agitators on July 5 and 6, 2023, while 1 locally made revolver, 2 vehicle number plates and 3 live ammunition were recovered.
Similarly, in Imo, police operatives arrested 26 hoodlums following the murder of a young man in their rampage, and successfully recovered 5 firearms, 66 live ammunition and several other exhibits.
The Force Spokesman, quoted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, as reiterating the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to continually ensure the safety and security of all residents of the country.
He emphasized that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the effort to suppress and decimate criminality and the heinous activities of non-state actors who cause pain, hardship, and sorrows to innocent law abiding members of the Nigerian society.
