Men of the Nigerian Police Force
have arrested 31 suspected members of notorious kidnap and armed robbery gangs
terrorising travellers along the Abuja–Minna and Abuja–Kaduna highways.
The suspects, including six fake
soldiers, were paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, on
Tuesday at Dikko in Niger State.
Moshood said the arrest followed
the reinforcement of Operation Absolute Sanity on the Abuja-Minna Highway with
more police personnel by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
He said the team was deployed to
tackle the gang of kidnappers that escaped arrest on the Abuja–Kaduna Highway and
relocated to some roads in Niger State.
The police spokesman said five
suspected kidnappers died in a gun battle with the police, while one Sergeant
Shettima Abdulahi lost his life earlier on Tuesday when the team fell into an
ambush by the suspects.
He said: “The above mentioned
suspects were arrested in their hideouts and camps where some of their victims
were rescued and the listed firearms, ammunition, army camouflage uniforms and
operational vehicles of the kidnappers were recovered from them.
“In the operation that is still
ongoing, four different vicious and notorious kidnap for ransom gangs,
including those dealing in illegal possession of prohibited firearms were
dislodged and busted.
“A total number of 31 suspected
fake soldiers, kidnappers, armed robbers were arrested in the operation. They
confessed to the offence and admitted to the various criminal roles they played
in committing the crimes.
“Most of the suspects were
identified by the victims and for being responsible for their kidnap,” he added.
Moshood said efforts were ongoing
to arrest other suspects at large, noting that all the suspects would be
arraigned in court as soon as the police conclude their investigation.
He was hopeful that the renewed
commitment of the police to reducing crimes across the country was yielding
positive results.
Some of the suspects paraded are
Adamu Hussaini, Bala Mohammed, Hassan Hashimu, Ibrahim Badamasi, Babangida
Hamza, Umaru Abubakar, and Karo Ladan among others.
Items recovered from them include
four AK 47 rifles, two English Berretta pistols, two locally made pistols, five
sets of army camouflage uniform and one international passport belonging to a
kidnapped victim.
Others are eight operational
vehicles, two Golf Volkswagen, one Honda Civic, 95 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 15
9mm ammunition, two laptops, and one digital camera among other items.
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