The Nasarawa State Police Command has paraded 14 suspects arrested for cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other crimes in the state.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, who paraded the suspected criminals at the police headquarters in Lafia on Friday, December 30, 2022, said the command also recovered arms and ammunitions.
Baba said the command arrested the suspects while implementing the strategies put in place during the yuletide to curtail the excesses of criminals.
The CP further stated that the command from January to December, 2022, arrested a total number of 751 suspects, including 136 armed robbery suspects, 112 suspected kidnappers, 59 rapists and 138 cultists.
According to the commissioner, four armed robbery suspects were arrested in Lafia on December 23, after they attacked two children and dispossessed them of their phones.
“On 23/12/2022 at about 1530hrs, Police operatives attached to ‘E’ Division, Lafia busted a Four-man armed robbery syndicate terrorizing Sabon-Pegi, Shabu area of Lafia North. Nemesis caught up with them when they attacked two children who were sent on an errand and dispossessed them of a smart phone,” he said.
“Consequently, through discreet Investigation, the following suspects were arrested in connection to the case namely: Chibuzo Timothy 20yrs, Obey Atuze 20yrs, Ishaya Mathew 25 yrs and Zaidu Ali 25yrs all males of Sabon-Pegi. Upon execution of search warrant at their hideout, one Barretta Pistol and a locally fabricated revolver gun were recovered from the suspects as exhibits,”
Also, on 16/12/2022 at about 1607hrs, Police operatives attached to Karshi Division led by the Divisional Police officers, CSP Nnamdi Udobor arrested one Abubakar Salisu ‘M’ 22yrs who in a bid to snatch a smart phone from his victim, stabbed her with a Knife thus, causing grievous hurt before dispossessing her of a smart phone.
A painstaking Investigation was carried out which led to arrest of the suspect and recovery of the stolen phone; one locally made pistol and the knife used in stabbing the victim were recovered from the suspect as exhibit. Investigation is ongoing at State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.
Police operatives arrested two suspected cultists during a raid of criminal flashpoints in Lafia and recovered firearm.
“On 25/12/2022 at about 2130hrs while conducting raid of suspected Criminal flash points around Federal University, Lafia, the duo of Mohammed Abdulmalik 18yrs and Yusuf Maji 28yrs all males were apprehended by operatives of the Anti-cultism Unit of the Command,” the CP said.
“A search was immediately conducted on the suspects, where one locally fabricated Pistol, one live cartridge, a scissors, Knife and some quantity of dry leaves suspected to be marijuana and lighter were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.
On 22/11/2022, acting based on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit arrested one Collumbus Basil 34 yrs, Esson Mamman 37yrs, Emeka Eze 45yrs and Emmanuel Ojo 26yrs all males of Akwanga while planning to Kidnapp a business Man in Akwanga.
In the cause of further Investigation, a victim of armed robbery attack in Akwanga came forward to identify the suspects as those whom attacked and dispossessed him of his personal belongings and cash sum of over one million naira.
The suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and admitted to have further gone ahead to withdraw money from the victims account using the ATM card which they collected.
In same vein, on 14/12/2022 one Musa Kasimu ‘M’ 36yrs conspired with one other and wrote letters to some well to do individuals residing at Agboshiyi Village of Nasarawa Eggon, threatening to kidnapp them if they do not pay some certain amount of money.
Consequently, a thorough manhunt was launched for the suspects which led to the arrest of one Musa Kasimu.
The suspect confessed to have collected money to the tune of Eight hundred and sixty thousand naira (#860,000) from four different victims. Investigation is ongoing at State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.
On 7/12/2022 and 10/12/2022 the duo of Abdulahi Ahmed Ikwogya and Aklo Timothy all males of Akwannga LGA were arrested by the eagle- eye Police operatives of the Command at different locations in Akwanga.
A search was conducted on them where two locally fabricated revolver Pistols, one single barrel gun, two Dagggers, Six rounds of 7.62 MM live ammunition, a rain coat and rope were recovered from the suspects as exhibits. Investigation is ongoing at State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.
Below is the summary of arrest, recoveries and other achievements in 2022:
Number of Armed robbery suspects arrested =136
Number of suspected kidnappers arrested =112
Number of firearms recovered = 44
Number of live ammunition recovered =704
Number of motorcycles recovered = 6
Number of vehicles recovered = 5
Number of cultist arrested = 138
Number of Rape suspects arrested = 59
Suspects arrested for other sundry offences = 365
Money recovered = #600.000.00
Number of Handsets recovered = 14
Total Number of Cases Charged to Court = 374
Total Number of Convictions Gained = 23
TOTAL NUMBER OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED= 751
