The Niger State Police has recorded a harvest of suspected criminals within several states of the country and rescued nine kidnapped victims.
The suspects’ arrest was made possible with the help of “Technical intelligence” and informants who provided useful information to the operatives.
Spokesman of the State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, who made this known in a police bulletin on Wednesday, said about 19 criminal suspects were arrested for sundry offences.
Abiodun revealed that on 24th November, credible information led to the arrest of one 37 years old suspected kidnapper, Umar Aliyu also known as Babuga Datijo of Kwali, FCT while he was driving a Toyota Corolla with registration number KTU-906-HM, along Salka-Raba village, Magama LGA.
The spokesman said during interrogation, N5 million, three ATMs cards, Three National Identity cards, four handsets, two Identity cards and drivers licence were found in his possession.
The suspect confessed to kidnapping activities in Shagamu expressway Ogun State, Tambuwal Sokoto State, Alieru Kebbi State and Niger State, while the money recovered was his share from a ransom collected from kidnapping of a victim in Nasko.
Aliyu confessed that he belonged to one Poyi’s group of bandits after the death of his members at Shagamu, while he mentioned other members of the gang as Maidabo and Shaibu Haruna also known as Felalu of Garatu and equally provided their phone numbers to the Police.
According to Abiodun, following the arrest of Aliyu, his gang members attempted to attack Nasko Division on 27th November believing that the suspect was detained in the Division in order to free him, meanwhile, he had been moved to State Police Headquarters in Minna. He said the Police, however, repelled the attack.
“In a follow up investigation to the attack with the aid of Technical Intelligence one Motse Mohammed 47 years and Aliya Mohammed 48 years both male of Salka Magama LGA were arrested for having contacted the bandits and acted as informants before the attack. It was also established that a sum of ten thousand naira was sent to the two informants by the bandits through one POS point in Salka.
“In a further effort to track the said Maidabo and Shaibu Haruna, a phone number was discovered in Kontagora suspected to be bandit’s informant on surveillance, which led to the arrest of one Zubaida Sanusi 18 years, a student of School of Health Technology Kontagora. The phone number of Shaibu Haruna was found in her phone and saved as Kudi-banza (illegal money), while she confessed that she was introduced to the said Shaibu by a woman known as Aisha Mohammed and that whenever Shaibu is around he spends a lot of money on her with sexual satisfaction.
“In the process of tracking Maidabo, one Alh. Bello Fari was equally trailed to have a link with Maidabo. He was arrested within Mokwa-Ibbi area through an informant. It was discovered that the suspect does not have any means of livelihood, and he initially denied knowing Maidabo but he later said Maidabo was his friend who he knows as a bandit. However, he is assisting the Police in our investigation,” Abiodun said
The Police spokesman further disclosed that on 21st of November, credible intelligence was received that bandits were planning to establish a camp around Maje-Suleja/Kuchinbuyi area of Abuja but the crack squad of the Command with the aid of Technical Intelligence arrested one Adamu Abdullahi 25 years of Kuchinbuyi area.
“During interrogation, he confessed to the crime of kidnapping within Lambata, Abaji, Kuje, Dobi-Zuba and its environs. He mentioned his group members as Babuga, Suleiman Damishi Lawal, Mustapha Sahabi and one Wizkid with the use of about 18 AK-49 rifles to establish the camp.
“As a result of the above confession, Suleiman Damishi male an adult and Ibrahim Maisaje also known as , Jayi 40 years, were arrested at Mararaba Udege, Nasarawa State on 15/12/2023. The suspects confessed to a series of kidnappings in Suleja-Kwamba, Maje, Bwari FCT, and Ijahkoro Sabon-Wuse.
“In one of their operations at Lai-Maiangwa area of Birnin-Gwari Kaduna, Ibrahim Maisaje was shot and lost one of his eyes during the encounter. He later relocated to Nasarawa/Abuja, Abiodun stated.
Abiodun further revealed how the police intercepted a gang of gun runners who attempted to attack the police tactical team after they were sighted.
“Police tactical team stationed at Gwacipe nipping point along Izom-Suleja road intercepted and had an encounter with four suspected armed men who were on a motorcycle with a sack, the suspected hoodlums attempted to attack the tactical team.
“Consequently, the team responded swiftly and in the process, one Peter Padda 24yrs ‘m’ of Sulu village via Gurara LGA was shot on the right leg and arrested, while three others escaped from the scene into the bush.
“The sack was searched and three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles with magazines were recovered. During interrogation, the said suspect confessed that he was sent by his brother James Padda to purchase the rifles from a local fabricator in Shiroro LGA at the rate of one hundred thousand naira each.
“In the course of investigation and as a result of his confession, six other suspects were arrested for illegal arms dealing, who included; James Padda 30yrs of Gbakoro village, Bala Isiaku – the local fabricator ‘m’ of Talaye village, Shiroro LGA, Isah Audu 25 years, Audu Ahmadu 35 years ‘m’ of Gabi village Lapai, Isah Bako 24 years and Rabo Ali of Gusoro village Shiroro,” Abiodun said.
