Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two suspected members of a transnational kidnap syndicate involved in the kidnap of an American citizen, Philippe Nathan Walton.
Walton was abducted on October 28, 2020, at his farm in Masalata Village, Republic of Niger.
The suspects were identified as Aliyu Abdullahi (21) a.k.a Mallam and Aliyu Umaru (23) a.k.a Kwatte Kusu, both from Sokoto State.
They were reportedly arrested on November 25, 2020.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba disclosed in a statement that the two suspects, who had been members of a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/Nigerien extraction, led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda, were apprehended after a special intelligence-led operation aimed at arresting the criminal gang.
“Investigations by the IRT revealed that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – four Nigeriens and two Nigerians who died during the rescue operations.
“The Force is collaborating with its Nigerien counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large,” the FPRO stated.
Mba also said that as part of efforts towards tackling transnational crimes, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has been working in concert with other members of the West African Police Chiefs Organization (WAPCO) to deepen intelligence sharing among security agencies in the ECOWAS sub-region and strengthen security along the international borders of member states.
He added that the suspects would be arraigned in court after completion of investigations.
