•As police arrest other gang members, rape suspects, recover firearms, ammunition, N2m
Two members of a kidnap gang, Aminu Lawal (a.k.a Kano), and Murtala Dawu (a.k.a Mugala), have told chilling story of how they murdered five of the students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State to quicken payment of demanded from other parents.
The confession was made after operatives of the Special Tactical Squad, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB-STS) arrested them along with 29 other suspects over major violent crimes including kidnapping, culpable homicide, rape, unlawful possession of firearms, among others.
The arrests were sequel to the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to clamp down on the perpetrators of crimes and criminality, as well as cutting off their supply of arms.
Recovered from the suspects by the FIB-STS were 61 firearms, including 41 AK-47 rifles, eight type 06 rifles, four light assault rifles (LAR), four pump action guns, two locally-made firearms, a G3 rifle, a dane gun, 376 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, and N2 million in cash in the course of investigations.
Lawal and Dawu, both working in synergy with the kidnap kingpin known as Yellow Ashana confessed to the kidnap and murder of two police officers and one vigilante in 2021. They also opened up on the kidnap of students from the Greenfield University in Kaduna State, and the mindless murder of five victims before the payment of ransom, and eventual release of the others.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that intelligence showed areas of operations of the suspects to include Dan Hunu, Kekebi, Dan Busha Rido, Maraban Rido, and Kumi Sata, all in Kaduna State.
“FIB-STS operatives caught up with them in March, 2022, after being on their trail upon the mention of their names in connection to the kidnapping of Bethel Baptist School students in 2021,” the FPRO stated.
Similarly, a five-man trans-border syndicate who carries out kidnapping operations in between Adamawa State in Nigeria, and Burha, Fituha, and Kesu in Cameroun were arrested. The gang, which comprises Abubakar Mohammed, aged 28; Shehu Mohammed, aged 38; Abdullahi Ali (30); Abubakar Ali (18) and Hussaini Sule (18), all from Mubi, Adamawa State.
Their targets were said to be wealthy individuals who possess beautiful houses or cars. They confessed to the kidnap and multiple rape of a newly-wedded woman at Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno state whom they released upon receipt of N1 million as ransom.
CSP Adejobi said that they were apprehended by operatives of the FIB-STS after collecting N2 million as payment of ransom for one Alhaji Moni of Buladega Village on May 11.
Operatives of the FIB-STS equally apprehended the duo of Umar Muhammed, aged 40, from Mitchika in Adamawa State, and Musa Buba aged 29, from Hong in Adamawa State, who were known for their kidnap activities.
They were reportedly arrested at the market, upon credible intelligence that they would be there to buy food items for their kidnap victims. They confessed to many heinous crimes including the killing and beheading of one Alhaji Mai Gome, even after ransom payment had been made.
Commending the operatives for the successes recorded, the IGP assured that all criminal elements would be smoked out of their hiding places and would answer to their crimes in due course.
All the suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of investigations, Adejobi assured.
