•GPMG, 22 other weapons, ammunition recovered
Operatives of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction of a Catholic Priest in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, said that the suspects, Abubakar Usman (21) and Salisu Abdullahi (28), were arrested by the team following intelligence-led operations to unravel, arrest and bring to book, the criminal gang responsible for a series of related high-profile kidnap operations in Kaduna State.
Investigations by the police team had revealed how the arrested principal suspects masterminded and led other gang members to carry out the kidnap, the FPRO stated.
Recovered from them were a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and three AK-47 rifles, while effort was still ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
CP Mba said further that the police also arrested three ex-convicts identified as Abel Nanfa (23), Nankum Wazhi (32) and Jonah Patrick (25), in Plateau State for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car theft within the Jos metropolis.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects, after serving their jail terms, returned to their nefarious activities before nemesis caught up with them. The suspects were arrested while trading a Toyota Corolla vehicle which they snatched at gun point from one of their victims in Jos.
“One (1) AK-47 rifle, one (1) Beretta pistol and twenty-one (21) rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects,” the FPRO disclosed.
The police team again arrested 48-year-oldAbubakar Haliru of Zaria Local Government Area in Kaduna State, for luring his cousin, one Binta (surname withheld) and handing her over to his kidnap gang members in Galadimawa forest in the state.
Mba said that the victim narrowly escaped from the kidnap gang and contacted the police before her eventual rescue.
Investigations had revealed that Haliru and his gang members were in the habit of taking advantage of family ties to deceive and abduct family members.
In all, according to the FPRO, 47 suspects were arrested in various operations, while exhibits recovered included the GPMG recovered from the Catholic priest’s abductors, 22 sophisticated firearms and weapons of different calibre, 525 ammunition, one hacksaw and mobile phones.
He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali assured the nation that the Force would remain committed to tracking criminal networks, mopping up illicit weapons in the hands of criminal elements and 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.
Mba added that the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
