The Kogi State Police Command on Tuesday paraded 40 suspects for various alleged offences including kidnapping, robbery, illegal possession of fire arms, vandalism and unlawful possession of substance.
Four of the suspects were allegedly behind the kidnap of two businessmen and other recent robbery incidents in the state.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operation, Edward Ebuka, while parading the suspects at the Police Command Headquarters in Lokoja, said they were arrested at their different locations around the state.
He said six of them, Ugbodaga Wada, Abdul Mudi, Adamu Faruna, Nuhu Usman, Abaji Awor and Abdulahi Sule were arrested for the kidnap of Alhaji Musa Oseni and Alhaji Buba in April at Ayingba.
According to him, 17 others are being held for their alleged involvement in various robbery incidents on the highways and other parts of the state.
He said that arms including two AK-47 rifles, a locally-made pistol and a Bareta Pistol with number 21244 and 27 rounds of live ammunition, were recovered from the suspects.
Other recovered items are, a white Nissan Sunny marked: YAB 980 AL and an ash-coloured Toyota Carina, car (AA 479 FFA).
Residents of Abua Street in Calabar, Cross River State, on Friday demolished a new generation church.
They also beat up the pastor in charge of the church thoroughly before he was whisked away to safety.
Their reason was that the church was a branch of another one located along Atamunu Street, which was allegedly discovered to be involved in kidnapping children for ritual purposes.
The General Overseer of the church, who presided over the Atamunu branch had been arrested along with some other people, over the alleged murder of a one year old baby, who was believed to have been used for ritual. The Atamunu church had been ransacked on Thursday and a baby’s heart among other many other fetish items.
When The Nation visited the Abua Street branch yesterday, residents were demolishing the building, recovering items including used sanitary pads, bras, panties and other female accessories, as well as many pictures of young men.
The angry mob burnt every item recovered from the church.
One of them, who gave his name as David, who spoke with our reporter expressed concern over the proliferation of such churches.
“These are just herbalist homes disguised as churches. If they put signpost as herbalists, no one will go, but the make it looks like a church. I believe that this one was particularly patronized by women, who are given assignments, to look for husbands. You can tell from the many pictures of young men discovered here. Most of those young men have no idea that their picture has been taken somewhere and tied down here. Who knows if they have told any of them to use the soaked pads to cook for men they want to marry them. A lot of bizarre things keep happening and I wish something would be done to check the activities of these churches.”
It was observed some residents were carrying wood, and zinc and other items recovered from the demolished building for their use.
Delta State Police Command has arrested Musa Mohammed, aka Daro, for alleged complicity in kidnapping and robbery.
Mohammed, 56, is the leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Dealers Association in the state.
Police Commissioner Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, who spoke to The Nation yesterday, said the police, acting on a tip-off, nabbed the herdsmen living in a bush behind Asaba airport.
He said Mohammed’s house was used to keep the guns used in operations, adding that kidnap victims were also kept there.
Ibrahim alleged that the eight persons arrested were sons of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Dealers Association leader, adding that they had been charged as an accessory to kidnapping and robbery.
He said Mohammed was aware of the criminal activities of his sons and relatives, adding that he could not claim innocence.
The command said it was awaiting the autopsy of a suspect, Ibrahim Musa, alias “Oyibo”, alleged to be the mastermind of most kidnapping/herdsmen’s killings at Kwale/Ogume and environs.
Zanna said the suspect claimed responsibility of herdsmen’s killings, which occurred years ago at Ogume where about 10 persons were killed.
The police boss said the suspect slumped after villagers at Ezionum, Eziokpo and Amai made statements to the police, implicating him in the killings of 10 persons in the communities.
His words: “Oyibo, the brain behind the crisis in the communities, died after he slumped. We are awaiting his autopsy.”
A 34-year old-man, John Kehen Utsa, was yesterday arraigned at a Makurdi Upper Area Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.
The prosecutor, Alexander Akule, told the court the case was transferred from Police Headquarters, Katsina-Ala, on August 13, to Benue State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Makurdi.
Akule alleged the complainant, Mary Soraan, of Collins Soraan Street, Katsina-Ala Local Government, reported the case at Katsina-Ala Police Station.
He told the court the defendant, who lives in Utsa, behind Central Primary School, Kastina-Ala, on August10, conspired with others at large and kidnapped the complainant’s nine-year son, Mfater Soraan.
Akule said her husband, Iwange Manasseh, “on the same date, about 062hrs and 1025hrs, received a call from GSM number, 08051170177, demanding N3 million ransom.”
The prosecutor told the court detectives rescued Mfater and arrested the accused, who confessed.
Akule said since the matter was being investigated, the court should remand the accused in prison.
The offences contravened Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State and Section 3 (2) of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Cultism and Other Related Activities (Prohibition) Law 2017.
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
Justice Fatima Akintomide ordered that the defendant be remanded at Makurdi Prisons, and adjourned the case till September 29.
A mob yesterday burnt two persons to death in Mushin and Agbado Ijaiye for alleged child abduction and phone theft.
The suspected kidnapper was killed at Cele in Agbado Ijaye; the suspected phone thief was lynched in Mushin. He allegedly stole a Samsung Galaxy phone valued at N45,000.
In a video circulating on the internet, the late kidnapper, was heard confessing how he abducted children before selling them for N30,000 each.
He said he kidnapped and sold four children for N120,000.
The suspected theft was said to have been spoted when he removed the phone from an apartment on Olorunsogo Street, Mushin.
Residents in the neighbourhood chased him to Olorunsogo junction, where he was beaten and set ablaze.
Policemen from Area ‘D’ Mushin have arrested some people over the inccident.
Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), said the suspects had been taken to the homicide unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba.
Worried by the rising jungle justice, Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni said there was no justification for killing people who should be handed over to the police.
He said: “We had a case of jungle justice on August 8, at Ajala Bus-Stop, Ijaiye-Ojokoro where two persons suspected to be kidnappers/ritualists were burnt, while some buildings were vandalised.
“Another incident happened on August 10, at Ile-Zik Bus Stop, along Old Abeokuta Road, where a mob attempted to carry out jungle justice on some destitute, suspected to be ritualists /kidnappers.
“Again, on August 11, a destitute who appeared to be mentally deranged was set ablaze by a mob on the allegation that he possessed a telephone.
“It is necessary to mention that in the course of the disdainful acts, vital evidence is destroyed.
“In addition, in the course of discharging its constitutional responsibilities and preventing the barbaric act, police officers were fatally wounded, while stones were hurled at them as well as police patrol vans. However, a number of arrests were made in this regard.
“The foregoing has made it imperative that the general public be reminded of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states thus: “It shall be the duty of every citizen to respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in the spirit of common brotherhood.
“No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment. There is no justification for jungle justice on suspected persons. It is barbaric and uncivilised.
“It is a manifestation of the erosion of our moral values and a disregard to sanctity of human lives. It violates the rule of law and dents the image of the state.
“Above all, it is a violation of the law, and all those arrested in connection with the aforementioned cases will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The public is advised to report any suspicious happening in their areas and they are assured of the renewed commitment of the police and other security agencies to prompt response to such reports.
“The public is also assured of renewed synergy amongst the institutions saddled with criminal justice administration towards ensuring quick dispensation of justice.
“The general public is therefore, strongly advised to desist from this unlawful and barbaric act. No effort will be spared in ensuring that lawful means are used to bring to justice, anyone who violates the law.”
Lawmaker condemns jungle justice
A member of Lagos State Lawmaker representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency II, Rasheed Makinde has urged Lagosians to shun jungle justice.
He told newsmen that jungle justice hinders proper investigation.
Makinde said this during an on-spot assessment to Obadeyi bus stop where some alleged ritualists were burnt by mob.
He said: “The tense environment we have today where everybody is living in fear is understandable couple with the fact that security personnel are very limited to the number of people living in Lagos State that is the challenge.
“However Lagos State Government is already doing something about it, the Lagos Neighbourhood watch recently established is one way out and recruitment process is ongoing. The essence of the neighbourhood watch is majorly to gather intelligence for the other security personnel to work with for a well secured environment. We should avoid engaging in jungle justice.”
He refuted the news making the rounds that a kidnappers’ den was discovered in his constituency.
The insecurity in Rivers State heightened Monday, as gunmen hijacked a commercial bus on the ever-busy East-West Road, kidnapping the 16 passengers on board and moved them into the forest, just as the 5-day annual conference of the African Bar Association (AFBA) was opening in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The hijacked bus belonged to a popular transport company (name withheld), while the driver of the bus was among the kidnapped persons, whose whereabouts remained unknown, as at press time.
The hijack/kidnap took place on the Emohua axis of the East-West Road in Rivers state, after the gunmen barricaded the dualised road and sporadically opened fire on the bus, thereby forcing the driver to stop.
The bus, which was riddled with bullets, was abandoned by the road side.
The opening ceremony of the AFBA’s annual conference had in attendance the immediate President of the Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who was the keynote speaker, the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his counterpart of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, among other eminent personalities.
It was gathered that a combined team of security operatives, consisting of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anti-Cultism Unit, the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and personnel of the Joint Task Force had been deployed in the forest, bordering Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Rivers state, to ensure quick rescue of the victims and arrest of the criminals.
Rivers police Spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, stated that the command was currently analysing the information it received from witnesses, assuring that the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, was on top of the matter.
Omoni assured that concerted efforts were already being made to apprehend the hoodlums, while pleading with members of the public to be vigilant and assist the police and other security agencies with useful information on suspicious movements in their neighbourhoods.
Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday vowed that kidnapping and similar crimes would be eliminated within a year with the necessary support and cooperation from Nigerians.
He spoke during a working visit to The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Lagos to solicit the support of the media organization and boost existing relationship between the police and the company.
Idris said police officers have been strengthened and their morale boosted to combat crimes.
He spoke of plan to send 100 marine policemen to the Navy for special training on counter kidnapping and militancy.
‘‘We have strengthened our officers and boosted their morale in combating crimes,” he said.
The IGP hailed Nigerians for assisting the police in combatting crimes,citing the recent arrest of suspected kidnap kingpin,Evans Onwanmadike.
His words: “Evans terrorized people in this country for many years but now we have the notorious kidnapper in our custody.
“The police deserve some credit from the public. Give me up to a year, I assure you that Nigerians would see a different police working to ensure their safety in every nook and cranny of this country.
‘‘When this kidnapping crime was unbearable on Kaduna-Abuja highway, I went to the National Assembly and I told the lawmakers to give me a week. Within five days, our men arrested 58 suspects, who confessed to the crimes.
“More of the suspects were arrested and paraded on Thursday, bringing the total to 77. All we want from the public is support. The police require support and encouragement, because we are human beings too.’’
The police chief stressed the need for the country to begin to focus on the causes of crime.
He said: “We cannot blame the police for the causes of crime. As I speak to you now, I can confirm that we have over a thousand suspects in detention for kidnapping and ritual killings. Then, we should ask why we still have these crimes when we have dozens of suspects? I think we should focus on the causes of crimes and its symptoms, not the agents of reaction.
“We have plans to develop the marine police. We are going to dominate the riverine areas.
“When I became the IGP, the first state I visited was Delta State, precisely Tompolo’s hometown. I discovered that our presence on the creeks was minimal. I believe we can succeed in dominating the creeks if we have certain things put in place.
“We need to train more marine police officers with modern techniques and gadgets. We need to buy more patrol gunboats and we are making progress in this respect. Already, we got offer to train about 100 policemen in marine security and a promise of 10 gunboats.
“By the time we get this done, we are going to start deployment from Lagos because of the rate of crime in riverine communities.
“We have been making efforts to secure these riverine communities from militants. This progress is achieved due to the activities of the marine police. We are training the marine police to perform better. We are liaising with the Navy in the training of our marine officers. We are going to train more officers in continuous succession.”
Asked why neither Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu nor the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Shettima Yerima was arrested for inflammatory comments, Idris said the National Security Council (NSC) weighed the aggregation of interests after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of certain action.
•From left: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni; Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila; General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Soji Omotunde; the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Executive Director Vintage Press Ltd, Mr Ade Odunewu; Chairman Editorial Board, Mr Sam Omotseye and Mr E.D. Gwana during the IGP’s courtesy visit to The Nation newspaper’s corporate headquaters in Lagos yesterday..
He said: “We have the National Security Council in place chaired by the Acting President. We have been meeting and analyzing each of these threat messages from separatist groups. We have to analyse the pros and cons. As you are aware, the police are on top of the situation.
“As an organisation, what we take as paramount is the maintenance of law and order. There was a time we ordered the arrest of the leaders of groups making threat messages. Then, leaders of various ethnic nationalities came to the villa for a meeting with the Acting President.
“The agreements reached at the meeting made the police to relax on the arrest order. We believe there are certain situations needed to be managed very carefully, so that you don’t bring up tension. We believe the security and safety of Nigerians is paramount. We are assuring Nigerians that there is no person or group of persons that can deny them their rights to free movement in any part of the country.”
The Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation, Mr. Ade Odunewu said the IGP’s visit showed the respect he has for the media.
He said: “In showing our support for the police to carry out their constitutional duties, we will partner you to enlighten the public on your activities. We have been doing this and we will continue to do it.”
On the IGP’s team were Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone II, Musa Ibrahim, Commissioners of Lagos (CPs) Fatai Oowseni, Ahmed Iliyasu, David Folawiyo, Shola David, Warren Bassey and Celestine Ogbuenyi, among others.
At a two-day workshop organised by the Osun State Command of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), experts diagnose the scourge of insecurity and recommend solutions. ADEKUNLE YUSUF reports
A midst pomp and pageantry, Osogbo, capital of Osun State, throbbed and pulsated with ideas almost to no end last week. For two days, dignitaries at the posh Atlantis Events Centre bared their minds on the state of the nation, proffering solutions to its perennial insecurity challenges.
The workshop, with “Combating the twin evil of terrorism and kidnapping through people’s policing” as its theme, served as a platform for security experts, civil society bigwigs and political office holders, to hit the bull’s eye in solving the insecurity conundrum.
Emphasizing that the workshop could not have come at a more auspicious time, the Chairman of the occasion and the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Gboyega Oyetola, urged participants to deploy their experience and expertise in helping the country out of the hole of uncertainties.
After tracing the history and sociology of kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, human rights’ activist and President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, concluded that the act of abducting people and holding them captive poses a serious security challenge to the country.
She said: “Now a thriving industry for abducting political rivals, business competitors as well as family members of the moneyed elite, kidnapping has its roots in endemic poverty, mass unemployment, and unabating frustration and hopelessness among the teeming youths. She added that for the dream of a better and more effective policing to come into fruition in the country, there has to be an improvement in the relationship between law enforcement agents and the public they seek to protect – since the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder.”
Contending that kidnapping and terrorism portend grave implications for national development aspirations, Dr. Okei-Odumakin warned that no country can make any meaningful progress in its socio-economic and political life in a conflict-ridden atmosphere. To stem this perilous tide, the rights’ crusader recommended a return to community policing, adding that people’s policing can act as a great recipe for combating crime.
“Community policing and neighbourhood watch”, she said, “build a bridge that enables residents and law enforcement to communicate, collaborate and work together to build safer, more caring communities. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of their actions. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public. Improved relations allow police officers to police more effectively and for the people to have more trust and less fear of police.”
While regretting the fact that politics always imperils attempts to solve serious national challenges, a one-time president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State, Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega, enjoined the powers that be to stop playing the ostrich. According to him, if decision makers at all levels quit denial mode, it will easily dawn on them that the existing national security architecture characterised by central command is a military heritage that is killing the country in instalments.
“Community policing, with inherent positive features of indigenisation, domicility, topography, language and culture, is best suited for effective policing system, the union leader recommended. “Community policing reduces crime and fear while restoring a sense of order. But it can also rebuild the bond between citizens and government. Policing officers, as public servants, who interact with citizens on a daily basis, have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the importance of citizens’ involvement in the community. In turn, they realise that their authority and effectiveness are linked directly to the support they receive from citizens. When fully embraced, community policing is democracy at its best.”
•A cross-section of dignitaries at the workshop…yesterday.
In his presentation entitled: “Wanted: Citizen Police,” an elated Governor Aregbesola insisted that ongoing debates regarding the restructuring of Nigeria’s governance template should also include a decentralised police system.
“A decentralised policing system is what is best for any country that operates a federal system of government. The environment of poverty and deprivation, obscene and conspicuous display of especially unearned wealth and the social value that venerates such grotesque displays need to be addressed before any progress can be made.
“Where there is the preponderance of ignorant and uneducated people, women subjugation and unemployed youths, the correlation with upsurge in criminal activities is always linear.”
With various elements and components underlying life and living getting ever-dynamic and increasingly complex, Aregbesola reiterated: “We are now at the stage in our national affairs as a nation that the issue of people policing should be put on the front burner,” adding that “it stands to good reason that it is not likely for others to know the nooks and crannies of a community than the residents of the particular community over time.
“The best arrangement is to federalise policing instead of the present centralised arrangement. In line with federal principles, we must have state and local government police. It is curious that we have state laws and even local government edicts, it comes to good reason therefore that they should have their own policing outfits.”
A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, agreed with all the recommendations, urging for cooperation and mutual trust between the citizens and the police to achieve improved security.
Amitolu Shittu, human rights’ activist and chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Osun State, said it would be utopian to expect the law enforcement agents to perform miracle with the strength of the Nigeria Police Force, which he noted was not proportionate to the country’s large population.
He therefore advocated a massive increase in the number of policemen and better funding so that the war against crimes can be better waged.
In his conference speech, Dr. Farouk Maiyama, the National Chairman of the PCRC, expressed the readiness of his committee, made up of public-spirited men and women, to assist the police in the war against crime and foster a better relationship and understanding between the police and their host communities.
Abia State police command has paraded a crop of suspected hoodlums for allegedly committing various criminal offences in Aba, the state’s commercial heartbeat, and other parts of the state.
The hoodlums, The Nation learnt, were reportedly responsible for heinous crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery and car theft, among others, in different parts of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade in a briefing at Umuahia, the state capital, lauded his men for rising to the challenge of insecurity in Aba, Umuahia and other parts of the state.
Oyebade said some of the suspects were arrested while carrying out the act, others before or after the act, but all nabbed using a well-planned information gathering method.
He lauded the synergy between the police and other security agencies in the state, stressing that the era when criminal came and operated in the state freely and undetected is gone. He said it is the desire of the police and sister agencies in the state to stop crime before it happens.
The police said some of the suspects undergoing interrogation would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations into their matter were concluded.
Oyebade said, “On 23/07/2017 at about 0010hrs, information was received that there was a corpse later identified simply as Prince ‘m’ of Ngwa and works in a bakery at Garki (Catlle Market) Lokpanta reasonably suspected to have been stabbed to death by his fellow cult members. Sequel to the information, the Divisional Crime Officer Isuochi raced to the scene with a team of detectives, removed the corpse to the mortuary and commenced investigation into the incident. The trio of Samuel Chukwuemeka, Abdulazeez Mukaila and Obisike Ekezie all males and members of ‘Red Barger’ confraternity were arrested. The suspects have confessed to the crime, search was conducted in their houses during which the following items were recovered: three red caps, four bangles, two daggers, one Samsung TV with its remote control, one Sony Speaker, one DSTV Decoder and a pair of canvas. The dagger used in the act has been identified in the two recovered. Effort is intensified toward the arrest of other fleeing members of the cult group.
“On 27/07/2017 at about 1100hrs, responding to a distress call on the presence of strange faces in Nkwoudara Ovungwu, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, patrol team attached to Omoba Division in raced to the scene and with the collaborative efforts of the Vigilante men in the Community, arrested the following four suspects: Chisom Chimezie 19yrs, Ogbonna Onyeka 22yrs, Kingsley Onyemuru 20yrs and Chinonso Madugba 18yrs all males of Osisioma LGA. Search on them resulted in the recovery of the following items: One locally made pistol with two live cartridges, two jack knives, four ATM cards, Wallet containing sum of N9,090.00 and six ID cards. One Uchenna Ikpendu ‘m’ of Ibeku- Ngwa in Osisioma LGA has identified the suspects as hoodlums that snatched from him on gun-point, his brand new Qlink 150 Motorcycle on 23/07/2017 at about 1730hrs in Umuehim Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South. Discreet investigation is in progress.
“On 27/07/2017 at about 0500hrs, the operatives attached to the Command’s Dragon Squad Aba acting on a tip off, arrested the duo of Samuel Akoma and Kenneth Ananaba both males in an Hotel room at Aba where the hoodlums lodged after collecting ransom to release their hostage. Two vehicles, including that of the released hostage were recovered.
“On 24/07/2017 at about 2205hrs along Milverton Area Aba, patrol team attached to Central Police Station Aba while on routine patrol, intercepted one Obasi Chibuike ‘m’ putting on Police bullet proof jacket and extorting motorists. On sighting the patrol team, suspect fled the scene but was over-powered by the team. The following items were recovered from him during search: three live cartridges, one bullet proof, one jack knife and an International Passport. The suspect has however, confessed to being a member of four man robbery gang terrorizing Aba and its environs. Effort is put in place toward arresting the other members of his gang as well as recovering their weapons.
“On 22/07/2017 at about 1305hrs, PMF 55 men on nipping point duty at Owerrinta acting on a tip off, intercepted a 14 seating Mitsubishi L300 bus with reg. no.SB 639 WER painted white and green and arrested the duo of Chinemere Amamba aged 39yrs and Nnamdi Monday both males of Nmelele Isiala Ngwa South. The suspects abducted one Ijeoma Okereke ‘f’ of Imo State University Owerri at about 1200hrs along Emekuku junction, Douglas road Owerri.
“On 27/07/2017 at about 0645hrs, acting on a tip off, detectives attached to Abiriba Division arrested the duo of Ifendi Eke and Nwokocha Ndukwe both males of Abiriba who are behind series of house burglary and stealing in the Community. The suspects confessed to the allegation and led the investigation to the arrest of one Arua Uta Agbai ‘m’ of Abiriba that aids them in disposing their loots. Items so far recovered are bags, Electronics, empty carton of plasma TV carted away from the house of a Cameroun based business man, Hon. Agbara Ashiegbu. Investigation is in progress toward recovering more stolen items.
“On 25/07/2017 at about 0015hrs, a distress call was received from one AzubuikeEjikeme ‘m’ of No. 24 Okigwe Road Aba that his residence was under siege by hoodlums. In response to the call, team of patrol men attached to Central Police Station Aba raced to the scene and laid ambush against the hoodlums during which one Frank Egure ‘m’ of no fixed address was arrested at about 0050hrs with Generating sets and motor tyres. On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have burgled an apartment in the complainant’s residence from where, he carted the recovered items. Similarly, another patrol team attached to the same Division had on 20/07/2017 at about 0015hrs arrested the duo of Joseph Patrick and Chinedu Elewechi both males of no fixed address in their area of responsibility following a distress call received from one Amarachi Patrick ‘f’ of No. 142 Jubilee road Aba on 19/07/2017. Items recovered from the suspects are: One Elemax SH 2900 DX Generator, two Century Stabilizers, one Plasma TV, one truck and assorted drinks. Suspects will be charged to Court as soon as investigation is concluded.
“On 21/07/2017 at about 2105hrs, a distress call was received from one Ezinne Okorie ‘f’ of No. 132 Terryvin road Aba that while she was making call from her Tecno Y2 GSM phone valued #500,000.00, a group of four armed men accosted her, pointed guns at her and robbed her of the phone. In a swift response, patrol team attached to Central Police Station Aba raced to the scene where the duo of Ugochukwu Ugwumba 22yrs and Goodnews Uwem 18yrs both males were arrested with a machete while others fled with their guns. The suspects confessed to the crime and are leading the investigation toward arresting their cohorts cum recovering the phone.
THE Police yesterday paraded 32 suspected kidnappers for their involvement in abduction of motorists and travellers on Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood attributed the arrest to the inauguration of “Operation Absolute Sanity” by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris.
The IG last week launched the operation to end the spate of kidnapping on the highway.
The police said they have not recorded a single case of kidnapping or armed robbery since the launch of the operation.
The suspects are: Mohammed Musa, Musa Hassan, Mamuda Ado, Shuabu Musa, Sani Abubakar, Shehu Alhaji Ado, Abubakar Bello, Mohammed Garba, Usman Bello, Kabiru Ahmadu, Usman Fulani Gambo, Abubakar Abdullahi, Yahaya Usman, Suleiman Lawwan and Awal Madaki.
Others are: Yakubu Musa, Aliyu Yahaya, Aminu Shuaibu, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed, Sani Fulani, Ahmadu Rufai, Shuaibu Musa, Ibrahim Illo, Alhaji Umaru Auta, Bello Tukur, Mohammed Gambo, Mohamadu Adamu Sikiru, Mohammed Tukur Ibrahim, Saidu Mohammed, Abubakar Abdullai, Dan-Absabe Isah and Auwalu Abdullahi.
Items recovered from them include four AK47 rifles, six locally made pump action guns and two magazines.
The suspects were paraded at Police Divisional Headquarters in Katari, Kaduna State.
Moshood said: “The IGP, concerned about the issue of kidnapping on Abuja-Kaduna highway, deployed a special team to rout out kidnappers that have been terrorising the highway.
“We have made significant progress in ensuring that Abuja-Kaduna highway is safe for passengers, travellers and other road users, including communities that live along the highway because they are not spared too.
“Despite the kidnap of travellers, the kidnappers still go into villages to kidnap and terrorise unsuspecting members of the public.”
Moshood said the suspects have made confessional statement admitting to the various criminal roles they played in committing the crime.
“The suspects have confessed to various roles they played and that they belong to about four kidnapping gangs. Some are in charge of kidnapping, some others are responsible for negotiation and collection of ransom from families of the victims,” he said.
Idris hailed members of the communities for providing vital information that led to the arrest of some of the kidnappers.
The IG, who assured residents of Jere, Katari and Rijanah and others that the operation would be sustained, added that it would be replicated on other highways across the country.
“We will continue to build on this success to ensure that the last kidnapper is routed out of the highway.”
The District Head of Bishini Community, Giwa Gambo, who hailed the deployment of the operation, urged the police to sustain it.
He said: “We urge you people to come and help us. We are helpless because these people are armed and we cannot confront them. Our prayers is being answered because the government and police have listened to us and deployed people to rid our area of kidnappers.
“Before the deployment, we find it difficult to go to farm because if we go, it is either we are attacked, captured for ransom, killed or they rape our wives. We thank God for this deployment.”
