Operatives of the Imo State Police Command’s Special Tactical Unit, stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in a forest between Avu and Ihiagwa, on Monday, January 29, where they arrested of five suspects.
The suspects were identified as Muazu Awuta, aged 30; Abdullahi Abubakar,32 years old; Ozeru Sabo, 25; Saddam Suleiman, 27; and Bashir Yahaya, aged 28, all of Jau Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The Police Public Relations Officer ASP Henry Okoye, who confirmed the arrest in a statement, said that the operation was led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in synergy with some local hunters while acting on credible intelligence.
The police spokesman said that when the forest was combed, two decomposing unidentified corpses, suspected to be kidnap victims, as well as other items including mobile phones, wristwatches, shoes and slippers were recovered by the operatives.
In addition, five operational motorcycles belonging the suspected kidnappers and usually used for operations were also recovered.
“The command intends to carry out deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test to ascertain the identities of the deceased.
“The suspects are currently undergoing investigation and have provided useful information to the police that will lead to the arrest of other syndicates at large.
“Intense operation is still ongoing in the forest and other identified black spots with the aim of stamping out all forms of crime and criminality in the state,” Okoye stated.
