.....nab 92 armed robbers, 9 cultists, recover 7 stolen vehicles, 44 arms.
The Police at Force headquarters said on Wednesday that following efforts at quelling the menace of banditry, kidnapping among other crimes, its operatives arrested 153 kidnappers and rescued 35 kidnapped victims across the country in the last two weeks.
The Police also arrested 92 armed robbers, recovered 7 stolen vehicles, arrested 9 suspected cultists, and recovered 44 arms and 477 ammunition of various calibres.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi who made this known, during a parade of 34 arrested suspects, 7 Ak-47 rifles, 9 automatic pistols, 1804 rounds of live ammunition, a POS Machine, assorted illicit drugs, and one Mazda Saloon Car.
Giving a breakdown of the arrest and offences committed, the FPRO said, "On 9th of February 2024, operatives of the FID-Intelligence Response Team received intelligence on the activities of a syndicate of Trans-border gunrunners operating in Plateau state to other parts of the country and by extension, supplying arms and ammunition to some criminal elements beyond the borders of the country.
"The IRT Operatives utilized this information and arrested the following principal suspects, Mahos Jatau Mancha aka Adis, Justin Abugieye aka Austin, Joseph Zingkur Ayuba aka Zed Davou Chuwang and Yakubu Benedict Bonat aka VIP.
"During investigation, it came to light that the said Justin Abugieye is a Trans-border Arms and ammunition supplier based in Obudu LGA of Cross River State who usually gets supplies of AK47 rifles, ammunition, and rocket launcher from the Mahos Jatau Mancha, Joseph Zingkur Ayuba, Davou Chuwang, Yakubu Benedict Bonat, all in Plateau state and in turn supplies same to some rebels and other criminal elements in a neighboring country.
'One of the suspects, Yakubu Benedict Bonat confessed to have sold 4 Ak-47 rifles to Justin Abugieye, the first which he said belonged to his late father who was a police officer, and he had sold it to Justin instead of handing it over to legal authorities while the others, he had locally fabricated and had sold to Justin.
"Another of the suspects, Ibrahim Maji, happens to be a middleman who was present when Justin had sold 3 Ak-47 rifles to one Shetto Dogo and had collected another Ak-47 rifle and 16 live ammunitions to personally deliver to Shetto Dogo before his apprehension. One Lucy Ogar, the fem ale lover and accomplice of Justin who usually accompanies him to take delivery and supply of the arms and ammunition, as well as one Paulina Abugieye, his younger sister who assists him in delivering arms to buyers were also arrested.
"A factory operated by the said Joseph Zingkur Ayuba in his house at Kuru, Jos, Plateau state, where he fabricates arms was also discovered.
"Another suspect; Davou Chuwang who supplies ammunition to Joseph Zingkur was also arrested and while in custody, he was contacted by Majahid Muhammad Kyari and Buhari Musa who requested to purchase 2 Ak-47 rifles from him.
"They agreed to meet him to inspect the rifles and were immediately arrested by the operatives of the IRT at the agreed meet point. Interrogation revealed that Majahid had earlier been in business with Davou Chuwang and had in the past, purchased 50 rounds of 9mm live ammunition from him and trusted him to deliver this time around also.
"On the 12th of February, 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT received intelligence of a group of persons suspected to be involved in arms dealing and kidnapping at Sutai, Bali LGA of Taraba State.
"The operatives buckled down and arrested 2 persons identified as Modo Haruna ‘m’ 28 yrs and Buba Ruwa ‘m’ 30 yrs, both at Taraba State. Subsequent interrogation and investigation revealed that Buba Ruwa had been in possession of 12 Ak-47 rifles about 2 years ago, but was intercepted by police operatives while returning from an operation and had fled and managed to escape with just 2 Ak-47 rifles.
"The other suspect, Modo Haruna, confessed to being in possession of a single Ak-47 rifle and also belonging to a syndicate that specializes in gun running and cattle rustling. Efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of this syndicate and terminate the entire network.
Continuing ACP Adejobi said, "Following the incident of the kidnapping of the children and staff of Apostolic Faith School Emure Ekiti State and their subsequent release, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force has recently made the arrest of one Shehu Daru who has been identified as one of the kidnappers involved in the ungodly act.
"The suspect, Shehu Tailo 27yrs was arrested in Gbugbu area, Edu LGA, Kwara state and he was identified by one of the victims of the kidnapping to be one of the kidnappers.
"He confessed to being in a four-man kidnapping gang responsible for the kidnap of the children and staff of Apostolic Faith School, Emure Ekiti and that they had intercepted the vehicle conveying the victims along the road and upon interception, they killed the driver and burnt his body while the victims were taken to their camp.
"The suspect also confessed to have gone into kidnapping because of idleness and has been involved for over two years and had taken part in two other kidnappings at Taraba State and Adamawa State where he received a share of one million naira and two hundred thousand naira respectively.
"He claims he did not receive anything for the kidnapping carried out in Ekiti State.
Similarly, "Following an intelligence received by the operatives of the FID-IRT on the 16th of January 2024, on the activities of one chance operators at the Gwagwalada,Area 1, AYA, Giri and Wuse axis of the FCT, the operatives swung into action and immediately traced the activities of these criminals.
"This eventually led to their arrest on the 19th of February 2024 at their hideout located at Karimo, FCT. Upon their arrest and consequent interrogation, the suspects confessed to being specialized in carrying out “one-chance” operations and have been running it for over a year.
"Based on credible intelligence, about the activities of some kidnappers anf informants terrorizing the Kaduna/Zaria area, Operatives attached to Operation SIS from FID-IRT, FHQ. Abuja swung into action and arrested one Falalu Abdulmumuni of Audi village 30yrs, who admitted and confessed to belonging to a gang of kidnappers numbering over 20 in strength and one Abdulkarim Abdilkadir aka Kato who happens to be their informant.
"Upon arrest, Falalu also confessed to having actively participated in two kidnapping operations with his gang where they took the victims to Garke Forest held them captive for 21 days and later collected a ransom of 1.1 million and he was given 50,000 as his share.
"The suspect confessed to own an AK-47 rifle which he paid 300,000 and Yaroro, his gang leader had completed the balance before the acquisition of the weapon and is in current possession of this weapon at their stronghold in the bush.
"The suspect, Falalu also confessed that he and his gang members, headed by Yaroro had met at Dumbi Dutsen Abba and proceeded to the residence of one Ardo Shaibu at Dorayi village, Kaduna State, where they shot and killed the said Ardo Shaibu and his entire family, eradicating his lineage because they had approached him to join their gang and he had refused.
"The suspect’s residence was searched and a locally made gun that he kept at home was recovered by the operatives.
The other suspect, Hamza Aliyu upon interrogation confessed that he joined the kidnapping gang headed by Yaroro and later invited his gang to kidnap his younger sister Ladidi because he had earlier begged her to borrow him the sum of N50,000 but she refuse"d.
"After her kidnap, his father and his sister’s husband had paid the sum of one million naira for her release and he received the sum of N100,000 from his gang as his share of the ransom. Investigation is still in progress and efforts and measures are being put in place to ensure the arrest of every member of this notorious gang.
"On the 1st of March 2024 at about 1530HRS, operatives of the FID-STS while on investigation activities in Gusau, Zamfara State, arrested one Shehu Usman ‘m’ of Bungidu LGA Zamfara State.
"Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to belonging to a kidnapping syndicate involved in the kidnapping of 40 female students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State.
"He stated that the victims were taken to Birnin-Gwari forest of Kaduna State and were separated into 2 camps with each camp having 20 female victims each.
"The suspect confirmed the release of 9 victims from his camp and the death of 5 victims but claims to have no knowledge of the activities in the other camp.
He also confessed to have received a sum of Fifty thousand naira as his ransom share for the operation.
"Also on the 1st of March 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence, stormed Ogugu village in Jos, Plateau State and made the arrest of one Yakubu Mohammed ‘m’, Zubairu Ibrahim and Isiaka Musa .
"One AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing 4 rounds of live ammunition was found in the possession of Yakubu Mohammed and he confessed to had purchased it about 10 years ago at the sum of N260,000.
"The second suspect, Zubairu Ibrahim confessed to being part of a kidnapping syndicate that operates along the Obolo forest, Benue-Enugu express road.
"He stated that he had participated in two kidnappings involving 13 and 15 victims respectively and had been given the sum of N500,000 for each operation as his share of the ransom, stating further that he owns 2 Ak-47 rifles which are currently in the possession of one Ardo of Ado LGA, Plateau State.
"The third suspect, Isiaka Musa ‘m’ confessed to owning 1 Ak-47 rifle which he had also purchased ten years ago at the sum of N260,000, while the fourth suspect who was arrested at Odoba Otukpo, Benue State confessed to owning one Pump action gun illegally obtained and has disclosed the location of the arm to the operatives for it to be retrieved
"On the 27th of February 2024 at about 9.40am, operatives attached to the FID-STS on investigation activities arrested one Alhaji Habibu Isah age 40 of Lafiya village, Zamfara State.
"Upon consequent interrogation and investigation, the suspect confessed to being affiliated with a notorious bandit syndicate under the leadership of one Namada who happens to be his uncle.
'He also confessed to being a custodian of all types of grains harvested by the farmers in the area and seized by the bandits and also to being a link between the bandits and the villagers, giving all sorts of information to the bandits.
"He admitted to having made a huge sum of money in his 10 years of operating with the bandits and of the attained proceeds, he has purchased a Toyota Hiace Bus."
ACP Adejobi added, "As we continue to strengthen our investigative capabilities and collaborate with our law enforcement partners, we remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of every citizen.
"We are confident that the aggregate of our efforts towards combating crimes, will, in no time, herald a more secure and peaceful Nigeria."
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