Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB/IRT) have arrested four men suspected to be armed robbery kingpins in Plateau State.
The suspects were said to have been terrorising Shendam area and other neighbouring communities in the state.
They were identified as Miji Yawa Buba, aged 36; Saidu Manu Saleh, 30; Saleh Musa, 20 and Ibrahim Deri, 27, all natives of Shendam.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle and assorted ammunition.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the suspects were arrested after IRT operatives had received several complaints from residents on the activities of the gang.
The principal suspect, Musa, was reportedly nabbed in a raid after police operatives got information that he was looking for AK-47 rifle to buy in the town.
During interrogation, Musa named Ibrahim (alias Alhaji) as one of the gang members in the syndicate which was responsible for major robbery and kidnapping operations.
Further investigation also led to the arrest of Buba who lives at Angwar Yargam in the same community where the rifle was found and recovered by the operatives.
In his confessional statement, Saleh (Manu) said that he conspired with some of his cousins namely Alhaji Bareli Bello, Hussaini Bello, Abdo Baleri, Isa Baleri and Ibrahim Baleri, as well as his two younger brothers, Yuguda Saidu and Yahaya Saidu (now late), to buy AK-47 rifle to protect their cattle from being rustled.
He also said that they bought the rifle from one Baba Mallam at Yelwa for the sum of N300,000, adding that it was usually kept at the house of Alhaji Baleri.
On his own part, Saidu confessed that it was Alhaji Ibrahim Deri that asked him to look for 60 rounds of ammunition for the rifle at Shendam, saying that they had a good relationship.
He said that he had participated in a robbery operation at a provision store owned by one Alhaji Muntari in Shendam where they robbed him of N200,000.
However, he denied involvement in any kidnapping.
Intelligence gathered revealed that the gang robbed many people in the town and pharmacy outlets, of which one of the pharmacists, identified as Ibrahim Babawuro, sustained gunshot injuries during an operation at Shendam community.
Another suspect claimed that he only pulled the rifle’s trigger to test it, just as he denied knowing the gang leader, Musa.
He told the police that he is a cattle rearer who has a herd of 30 cows.
The Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba had earlier mandated the police authorities to mop up all illegal arms and ammunition in circulation in the hands of criminals.
In his comment, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali had directed the IRT Commander, DCP Tunji Disu to ensure that all arrests in connection with violent crimes are promptly prosecuted in the nation’s law courts.
This, the IGP stated, would serve as deterrent to other criminals.
