Follow Us on Google
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The police force headquarters, Wednesday paraded 19 suspects for kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, one chance, illegal possession of firearms and gun running.
The suspects according to the force public relations officer, Olumiyiwa Adejobi, were arrested in different parts of the country by operatives of the Federal Intelligence Department(FID), and the Intelligence Response Team(IRT).
Adejobi, listed items recovered from the suspects to include Five AK-47 rifles, five pump action rifle, 150 live cartridges, one bullet proof jacket, one night vision telescope, vigilante uniforms, one torch light, one boot, one AA Ammunition, Six Magazines, One hundred and forty two AK-47.
The FPRO, while parading the suspects before newsmen in Abuja, said two suspected kidnappers Muhammad Abubakar, 24 and native of Jangefe, Zamfara State
Shehu Muhammad, 35 native of Anka, Zamfara State who have been terrorizing the Abuja/Lokoja/Okene highway, were arrested through a coordinated effort between FID-IRT operatives and local vigilantes in Asawa village, Kogi State.
He said “These suspects have been responsible for a series of robberies in Benin and multiple kidnappings in Okene, Kogi State. They embarked on their criminal activities about four years ago and have since orchestrated four successful kidnappings.
The suspects received one million Naira in ransom from their first and second operations, three hundred thousand Naira from the third, and two million Naira from the fourth. Their criminal activities came to an end following a fierce gun battle with our operatives, during which they were captured after exhausting their ammunition. The successful apprehension of these suspects marks a significant victory in the fight against kidnapping and robbery in the region.
Also paraded were a two man one chance syndicate Chukwudi and Okeke. Adejobi, said that Chukwudi, with 22 years of experience in ‘one chance’ robbery, has demonstrated a mastery of deceptive tactics used in these criminal activities. Both Chukwudi and Okeke were identified as persons of interest following interrogations of previous ‘one chance’ suspects. Their criminal activities came to an end when the diligent operatives of FID-IRT successfully apprehended them in Suleja.
Four suspects, Ibrahim Shehu, 30, Ibrahim Ardo, 32, Ibrahim Amodu, 50, Ibrahim Mohammed, 50, Ayo Johnson, 30, were arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
Exhibits Recovered from them include One AK-47 rifle (from Ibrahim Shehu)
ii. One AK-49 rifle (from Ibrahim Ardo)
iii. One AK-49 rifle (from Ibrahim Amodu)
iv. One AK-49 rifle and 80 rounds of live ammunition (from Ibrahim Mohammed)
v. 57 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition (from Ayo Johnson)
vi. One AK-49 rifle with
Following intelligence received from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Intelligence Department Unit, Abuja, indicating the presence of a gun-running syndicate operating in Taraba State, a team of FID STS operatives stationed in Taraba State conducted covert operations and arrested the above named suspects.
Preliminary investigations also revealed the involvement of some security personnel as the suppliers of arms and ammunition to militias and bandits operating within the North-Central region.
