In connection with the abduction of a Catholic Priest in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State. The Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team led(IRT) led by DCP Tunji Disu has arrested kidnappers and ammunition recovered.
In a press briefing which had CP Frank Mbaas the spokes man in company of the Police Intelligence Response Team Boss (Police IRT) DCP Olatunji Disu, told newsmen that the IRT Operatives led by DCP Tunji Disu had rounded up suspects across different locations in the country following credible tip-offs.
According to Mba, investigations by the Police Team has revealed how the arrested principal suspects masterminded and led other gang members to carry out the dastardly act.“One (1) GPMG and three (3) AK47 rifles were recovered from the suspects while effort is still ongoing to arrest other members of the gang”, Mba said. Similarly, the Police has arrested three (3) ex-convicts, Abel Nanfa, ‘m’ 23 yrs, Nankum Wazhi, ‘m’ 32 yrs, and Jonah Patrick, ‘m’ 25 yrs, in Plateau State for their involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car theft within the Jos metropolis. IRT investigations on them revealed that the suspects, after serving their jail term, returned to their nefarious activities before the hands of the law caught up with them. The suspects were arrested while trading a Toyota corolla vehicle which they snatched at a gun point from one of their victims in Jos.
One (1) AK47 rifle, one (1) berretta pistol and twenty-one (21) rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects. In another development, the Police Team also arrested one Abubakar Haliru, ‘m’, 48 yrs old, of Zaria LGA in Kaduna State, who lured his cousin, one Binta Mohammed and handed her over to his kidnap gang members in Galadimawa forest in Kaduna State. Binta, police said narrowly escaped from the kidnap gang and thereafter contacted the Police before her eventual rescue. Investigations revealed that Haliru and his gang members are in the habit of taking advantage of family ties to deceive and abduct family members.
According to CP Mba, a total of forty-seven (47) suspects were arrested in the various operations carried out by the police team, while exhibits recovered include: One (1) GPMG, twenty-two (22) sophisticated firearms and weapons of different calibre, five hundred and twenty-five (525) ammunition, one (1) hacksaw, and mobile phones from the suspects.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, while commending the officers and men assured the nation that the Force will remain committed to cracking down on criminal networks, mopping-up illicit weapons in the hands of criminal elements and generally working toward enhancing public safety in the country.The IGP also urged citizens to continue to provide useful information to the police to aid in the crime fighting efforts. “All the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations”, Mba concluded.