The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kidnap suspects

  • Police kill nine kidnap suspects

    The police have killed nine suspected kidnappers, who operated on Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

    They said the suspects were killed during an exchange of gunshots with criminals at a forest.

    It was learnt that two suspects escaped with gunshot injuries, while one operative of the Force was wounded.

    Recovered from the suspects are: six Ak47 rifles, one pump action gun, 1,206 rounds of Ak47 ammunition, seven magazines, 28 cartridges and 158 expended shells.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by Force spokesman Frank Mba.

    The statement reads: “The unrelenting efforts to root-out criminals terrorising commuters along Abuja–kaduna expressway recorded additional successes on April 10, with the recovery of six Ak47 rifles, one pump action gun, 1,206 rounds of Ak47 ammunition, seven magazines, 28 cartridges and 158 expended shells by the police attached to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ deployed in the area.

    “The recovery followed exchange of gunshots between the police and a heavily- armed notorious criminal gang at Akilbu forest, off Abuja-Kaduna expressway, which resulted in the death of nine members of the gang. Two escaped with gunshot injuries.

    “One of the police operatives, however, sustained gunshot wound. He is in hospital. Efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.”

    Expressing satisfaction about the successes recorded so far in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes across the country, the Inspector-General Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, reiterated his call for support by the public to the police and other sister agencies.

    He said the war against bandits would soon be won.

  • Police nab four kidnap suspects as victim is rescued

    The police in Borno State have arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued one victim at Tuga village in Damboa Local Government.

    Commissioner Mr. Danian Chukwu, yesterday at a news conference in Maiduguri, said the suspects on December 13 kidnapped Hassan Muhammad and demanded N21million ransom from his family.

    He said one of the suspects, Usman Abdul, 18, was arrested at the victim’s house when he went to collect the money.

    Chukwu said Abdul escorted a team of the police and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to their hideout where three other members of the gang were apprehended.

    The suspects are Adamu Dan-Rani, 20; Usman Musa, 40; and Musa Haruna, 74.

    Chukwu said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, a pistol, Dane gun and 32 pieces of ammunition, adding that family members of the victim sustained injuries during the rescue mission.

    He said the suspects, upon interrogation, admitted the crimes, noting that it was to enable them get money to restock their herds rustled in the area.

    The police boss added that the suspects claimed that 47 cows and 83 sheep were stolen from their herd.

    He said the police arrested Bilal Babayola in possession of a stolen vehicle.

    Chukwu said the suspect was nabbed in Maiduguri on December 18, 2018 while driving a Honda car registered as Abuja AE 238 MDS.

    The commissioner said the command had established the owner of the car and it would be released sequel to the presentation of proof of ownership certificate.

    The police destroyed 4,960 parcels of Indian hemp seized by the command in Maiduguri.

    Chukwu said the destruction of the narcotic substance was in line with the order of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri.

    He said the police on August 20, 2014, arrested Kole Aladejobi, a passenger in a truck conveying 248 bags of Indian hemp at Ngomari, Maiduguri.

    Chukwu said the driver of the truck escaped on sighting the police, while Aladejobi was arraigned on June 8, 2015.

    He said the court had convicted the accused and ordered for the destruction of the substance presented before it as proof of evidence.

  • Police nab five kidnap suspects

    Plateau State Police Command has paraded five suspected kidnappers.

    They were arrested during two kidnap incidents across the state in the last three weeks.

    Commissioner Austine Agbonlahor, while parading the suspects in his Jos office yesterday, said: “On October 23, about 2330hrs, a case of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping was received by the command from Aminu Hamisu of Angwan Rogo, Jos that on the same date, about 1702hrs, an anonymous person called him on the phone that abductors kidnapped his son, Aliyu Aminu, aged six and they warned him not to inform the police, or else his son would be killed.

     

  • Police nab 35 robbery, kidnap suspects in Abuja

    The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested 35 suspects for alleged kidnapping, cultism, robbery and phone theft.

    Three of the suspects – Henry Chinedu Ikoro, Joseph Raphael and Friday Moses – were arrested for conniving to kidnap two of their colleagues.

    Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma, who paraded the suspects, said  five vehicles; four firearms; toy gun; three master keys; cutlass; knife; four mobile phones and camera were recovered from the suspects.

    He said: “Police Operatives attached to the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS), following a discreet investigation, arrested the suspects for conspiring to kidnap Nnamdi Adimoha and Emeka Emmanuel, workers of Day Spa.

    “The victims were held for five days before they were rescued from the Karimo apartment of Joseph Raphael.

    “The principal suspect – Henry Chinedu Ikoro – a receptionist at Day Spa, masterminded the operation with the intention of extorting some money from their employer.

    “To allay any suspicion, the suspects arranged for the principal suspect to be arrested with the two victims. The suspects demanded for $150,000 to release the victims.”

    Bala said efforts are on to arrest three fleeing suspects who are in possession of the firearm and car used for the operation.

    The commissioner called for the support of residents, saying crime-fighting required the involvement of all.

    He said: “Residents must support the police with information if the desired result must be achieved. I assure them that every piece of information shared with us will be treated with confidentiality.

    Ciroma added the suspects will be prosecuted after investigation.

    Ikoro said he arranged the kidnap to get money to further his education abroad.

    He said: “My elder cousin involved me and we had to connive with some of our colleagues. I had to involve another colleague who knows Abuja better than me.

    “He told me how we could go about the kidnap, which I did to get money to further my education abroad. I hoped to make about N2 million and then add it to my savings so that I can further my education in business management outside the country.”

    Friday Inuwa and Sunday Dirioha were also paraded for car theft. Inuwa, after selling his master’s car, reported that it was stolen.

    Other suspects paraded include Israel Akpan, Godwin Onah, Ezugwu Valentine, Oste Armstrong Ajibo, Albarka Habila, Mohammed Tahiru, Bala Ezekiel, John Yusuf, Innocent John, Stanley John, Gambo Nana.

    Others are “Bussey Essien, Stanley Ostege, Kelvin James, Evans Eseoghene Suleiman Musa, Nnaemeka Nwafor, Jeremiah Uche, Abioze Samuel Cole, Agbole Ahmed, Chidi Dominic, Obesi Uche Nnamdi and Bamidele Loius.

  • Police arrest kidnap suspects in Minna

    Police arrest kidnap suspects in Minna

    The police in Niger State have arrested two persons allegedly responsible for the kidnap of students of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana said the suspects were responsible for the kidnap of three FUT Minna students. He added that the police is on the trail of two others who are on the run.

    It was learnt the suspects – Abraham Jatto, (30) from Edo State, and Idowu Mafe, (29) from Ogun State, have been on the police’ wanted list.

    The duo was arrested at their hideout in Sauka Kahuta area, Minna, by the command’s Special Anti-kidnapping Squad.

    Mafe, who claimed to be a graduate of the University of Ilorin, regretted his action, saying it was the quest to make money that led him into it.

    He said: “When the issue of getting a Dubai job came up, my parents could not afford the N750,000 demanded from us, and Abraham raised the issue of kidnapping which led us to this predicament.

    “I have dragged my family’s name in mud. I am well-brought up but I can’t factor what led me to this act. I pray my parents will forgive me.”

    Jatto confessed that they rented a two-bedroom apartment behind the trade fair complex to keep their victims.

    Elkana said a Honda Accord (ABJ 583 AE) was recovered from the suspects.

    “We are getting closer to arresting the two who are on the run, they can run away but we will get them and bring them to book,” he added.

  • Kidnap suspects arrested in Kogi

    Kidnap suspects arrested in Kogi

    Two suspected members of a kidnap gang in Kogi State have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Suleiman Isah (24) and Musa Mohammed (31), both natives of Ankpa, were arrested on May 29 at Ninth Mile, Enugu State, and Ayinba in Kogi.

    They were said to be among the criminals who kidnapped an Islamic Scholar, Alhaji Jibrin Idris, on February 21.

    The suspects allegedly confessed to be four in the gang, giving the names of others as Bashir and Mangal.

    The police said efforts are on to arrest the two members at large.

     

  • Police arrest 487 kidnap suspects in four months

    Police arrest 487 kidnap suspects in four months

    The Police have arrested 487 kidnap suspects and rescued 350 victims in the last four months.

    Police Spokesman Don Awunah stated this yesterday in an interview in Abuja.

    He added: “It is appreciated that there is relative increase in kidnapping but we are on top of the job. Kidnapping is apparently gaining some currency nationwide. There used to be isolated cases around the Niger Delta, which started with hostage taking.

    “But because it looks lucrative, a lot of criminals are abandoning other forms of their criminal enterprise for kidnapping. However, we are 95 per cent of clearance rate. The ability of the police to apprehend and charge suspects to court, as well as rescue victims have improved.

    “From June till date, we have arrested 487 kidnap for ransom suspects nationwide and rescued about 350 persons. We are doing a lot in this respect. The Inspector general has reorganised the anti-kidnapping unit and increased the tactical platform to assist in solving issues of kidnapping.

    “We advise persons who are victims of kidnapping to trust the police. Take the police into confidence and exercise considerable caution in payment of ransom.

    “There must be community engagements. These kidnappers live in a community; they take their victims to forests owned by people.”

    “People should not look aside. We are all vulnerable. It is only by collaborative efforts that issues of kidnapping can be solved. The police have been dealing decisively with kidnapping but the gains cannot be huge if we don’t have the people’s support.

    Hampering on quest for visibility policing, Idris said the service has put modalities in place to ensure safety of lives and property as the yuletide draws closer.

    “Most of the tactical teams, commanders, CPs and zonal commands received specific instructions to emplacement crime reduction strategies so that Nigerians can sleep with their eyes closed. We appreciate that most times, there’s increase in crime during ember months because many people want to celebrate the end of the year in a special way. So, we do special operations too. We do operation plan to detail the things that need to be done,” he sai

     

  • Police arrest four kidnap suspects

    Police arrest four kidnap suspects

    The police in Ondo State have arrested four persons who allegedly kidnapped a female industrialist, Mrs Eralkhuemen Unulere.

    They are Tosin Adenikiju, Abiodun Olabowale, Omoniyi Akinsoyimi and Olatunji Igbekele.

    The police rescued the victim, who was abducted at Araromi Obu in Irele Local Government Area last week.

    Mrs Unulere, a matron of Rubber Estate Nigeria Limited in Araromi Obu, was on her way to church when she was abducted.

    The suspects had demanded for N35million to secure her release, but the money was not paid before she was rescued by the police.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the woman was rescued on Sunday and without any ransom paid.

  • Six kidnap suspects arrested in Delta

    A suspected six-man kidnap gang and a 22-year-old member of a vigilance group, the Agbarha-Otor Vigilance group, have been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The vigilance group member was said to have just been released from prison over a related offence.

    According to a source from a member of the anti-robbery squad, the names of those arrested are: Clement Robin, Ovie Kupa, Kojo Emuobonuvie, Omamuyovwi John while a 6th suspect identified as Ruona escaped in an attempt to arrest him.

    The source had said that the suspects were arrested by the SARS on patrol along Evwereni and Ughelli axis of the East West road while on a trip to Ughelli in a Toyota Sienna car with registration number, Lagos, AAA 619 BZ.

    One of the suspects had confessed to have moved from Uwheru were they converged and prepared themselves with charms in a mission to kidnap the brother of one of the gang’s members.

    When contacted, the Delta State Police Spokesperson, Celestina Kalu said that investigation was already ongoing.

  • Kidnap suspects arrested after collecting N.8m

    Kidnap suspects arrested after collecting N.8m

    A four-man gang of inter-state kidnappers has been arrested by the police in Oyo State.

    The gang “kidnapped” Mr Arande from Omu-Aran in Kwara State and “collected” N800,000 from the victim’s family. The kidnappers were also said to be responsible for robberies in Kwara, Ekiti and other states.

    They were arrested by the ambush squad when they sneaked into Oyo to kidnap a traditional ruler.

    Commissioner of Police Muhammad Katsina listed the suspects’ names as Babatunde Ibrahim, Yusuf Abdulahi, Isa Abiodun, and Alabi Azeez, all from Balugu town in Kwara State.

    Katsina said the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in Oyo.

    “Findings led detectives to Ekiti and Kwara states where 15 cows, one unregistered Peugeot 307, one Toyota Camry with Reg No: BEN 7199 RU and one Toyota Venza with Reg No: SHA 371 TW were recovered,” he said.

    The police boss added that a manhunt is on to arrest one of their gang members, Bolaji, who is still at large.

    Katsina enjoined the public to cooperate with the police by provide information about the suspect.

    He said a pipeline vandalism gang was arrested by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “The team arrested Jelili Omotoye on Wofin Road at Ogbomoso axis after scooping petroleum product and loading same in 75 25 litres kegs, which were loaded in two vehicles, a Mazda Bus with Reg No: XA CFZ YYY and a Mitsubishi Bus with Reg No: EZ 42 KJA.”

    A four-man gang, which burgled Onibonoje Printing Press, was also paraded

    The police boss said the gang was arrested by the Ambush Squad while conveying armored cables stolen from the printing press.

    The suspects are Kolawole Tohib, Akeem Azeez, Abdulahi Jelili and Rilwan Bello.