Operatives of the Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team,
working with the Taraba State Police Command, have arrested a total of 11
notorious kidnapping suspects in Taraba State.
According to the police spokesman, Frank Mba, the suspects
were apprehended for their complicity and various criminal roles in the recent
kidnapping incidents in Taraba.
These incidents include but are not limited to the
kidnapping of serving personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, kidnapping of a
relative of the Emir of Jalingo, and the killing of a police sergeant in Jalingo,
the Taraba State capital.
CP Mba further disclosed that the police team equally
recovered seven AK-47 rifles, two Beretta pistols, 121 rounds of live
ammunition of different calibre, four magazines, masks, illicit drugs, and
other incriminating items during raids of various hideouts of the suspects in
the state.
The arrest of the suspects follows the deployment of
operatives of the Intelligence Response Team by the Inspector General of
Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, to Taraba to complement the efforts of the state
command in promptly containing the disturbing trend of kidnapping, armed
robbery, and other violent crimes.
The suspects, Luka Adam, Shuaibu Nuhu, Moses Amos, Peters
Mashi, Ahmadu Mallam, Adamu Mohammed, Dahiru Mallam Dalha, Gambo Isah, Sanusi
Ahmadu, Mallam Mohammed Mauludu, Ibrahim Idi, all indigenes of Taraba State,
were arrested by the police team from their various criminal hideouts.
Investigations reveal that the suspects, who have also been
on the wanted list of the Taraba Police Command, are members of a notorious kidnap
syndicate and have been evidentially linked to the recent upsurge in incidents
of kidnapping in the state, including the deliberate and calculated attacks on
security personnel.
Further probes show that two of the suspects, Gambo Isah and
Sanusi Ahmadu masterminded the killing of a Sergeant and left a Police
Inspector with gunshot injuries in their recent operation to enable them to
escape arrest having abducted some victims in Jalingo recently.
According to Mr Mba, suspects operate by trailing individuals
– business owners, Government Functionaries, motorists with flashy and exotic
cars, etc – to their houses and thereafter planning and executing the kidnap of
such persons.
They also collect huge sums of money as ransom from
relatives and friends of their victims before their release.
In the course of investigations, the police are said to have
equally identified and raided various criminal hideouts where kidnap victims
are usually kept.
While cache of weapons and other incriminating items were
recovered from the hideouts, all the kidnap victims held hostage at the various
hideouts were carefully and successfully rescued unhurt and reunited with their
families.
CP Mba noted that investigators are intensifying efforts at
arresting other suspects currently at large.
He also disclosed that the IGP, while commending the good
people of Taraba State for supporting the police especially in providing useful
information that aided the prompt apprehension of the suspects, assured that
the Force will continue to work with all stakeholders in deepening the
collective safety of the Taraba people.
The IGP condoled the family of the late Sergeant Ogidi Habu
and added that the Police will sustain efforts at improving public safety in
all Nigerian communities.
The police spokesman disclosed that all the suspects will be
charged to court on completion of investigations.