Eighteen suspects have been arrested by the Nigerian police force due to offences of armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.
Force spokesman, Frank Mba, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.
Mba said Eight (8) AK47 rifles, One (1) SMG sterling gun, 236 AK47 Ammunition, 12 pieces of SMG sterling gun ammunition, Two (2) Toyota Camry Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014 models (already released to the owners), were recovered from the suspects.
He said notable among the arrests, is the arrest of one Abubakar Umaru a.k.a Buba Bargu, ‘m’, 35 years, native of Kato Shiroro area of Niger State by the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS).
According to Mba, Umaru’s group abducted a leader of another kidnapping group in what we would call a twist of fate, received the sum of N1.5 million before releasing him.
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“Investigations by Police Team revealed that, Abubakar is a member and armourer of a gang that has carried out several kidnap for ransom operations along Lokoja-Abuja/Abuja–Kaduna highways and other major highways in the North-Central States of the country,” Mba said.
“Interestingly, this group carried out the abduction of one Mohammed Ahmadu a.k.a CONFIRM ‘m’, 30 years, a kidnap kingpin and leader of another notorious kidnapping group in the North-Central when he came to their hideout in the forest to sell live ammunition to the group.
“He was held and shot in the hand until his gang members paid a ransom of One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-five Thousand Naira (N1,555,000.00) only for his release.”
He said five (5) AK47 rifles, five (5) magazines and 120 rounds of AK47 ammunition were recovered from Umaru at his hideout in the Forest.
“Similarly, Police operatives arrested five (5) members of an armed robbery syndicate who have their criminal network and base spread across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Lagos States,” the Force spokesman said.
“The suspects namely; Godspower Ebogie ‘m’, Samede Miracle ‘m’, Efosa Rowland a.k.a Double ‘m’, Michael Ifeanyi Egwuatu ‘m’ and Ifeanyi Ewurum a.k.a Rati ‘m’ were arrested at various locations and linked to several cases of armed robbery and car snatching at gunpoint under investigations by the Police.
“Two (2) Toyota Camry Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014 models, robbed from one Mr. Osayuwamen Isokpan and Mr Harrison Eribo on 26/6/2020 and 5/7/2020 respectively in Benin, Edo State were recovered from the gang.”
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Meanwhile, the IGP was said to have commended the Police Teams for their dedication to duties which resulted in the successes recorded.
While appreciating the citizens for their support so far, Mohammed called for improved partnership and collaboration between the citizens and the Police particularly in the area of giving adequate information the Police require in order to tackle crimes and apprehend unrepentant criminals in the country.
Mba added that all the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.
© ControlTV 2021.
