By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
About thirty-one suspected vicious and notorious kidnappers, armed robbery gangs terrorizing Abuja-Minna and Abuja-Kaduna Highway have been arrested and paraded by the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and Commands Dikko near Suleja, Niger State.
In a press statement signed by the Police Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna disclosed that the above mentioned suspects were arrested in their hideouts and camps where some of their victims were rescued and some exhibits recovered.
Some of the exhibit recovered include 4 AK47 rifles, 2 English barretal pistols, 2 locally made pistols, 5 set of army camouflage uniform, 5 military caps, 3 military boots, 1 international passport belonging to a kidnapped victim, 8 operational vehicles, 2 Sharon vehicles ash and green color, 2 golf Volkswagen vehicles black and red colors, 1 Honda civic blue color and 1 Toyota Camry.
Others are 1 Mercedes salon car, 1 Toyota corolla, 95 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 15 9mm ammunition, 4 plasma televisions, 4 DVD players, 2 laptops, 2 car stereos, 1 wrist watch, 3 Walkie talkies, 52 GSM phones, 1 digital cameras, 7 flash drives, 6 ATM cards and 1 stabilizer.
According to CSP Moshood, among the suspects, 5 of them were dead during exchange of fire with the police personnel attach to Operation Absolute Sanity while the Police lost one Sgt Shettima Abdulahi when the team came under ambush attack by the suspected kidnappers on the early hours of 26th September, 2017.
He was of the opinion that the arrest was as a resulting on the reinforcement of Operation Absolute Sanity on Abuja-Minna Highway with more personnel of Special Tactical Squad and additional 2 Units of Special Police Forces by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris to tackle the gangs of Kidnappers that escaped arrest on Abuja-Kaduna Highway and relocated to some roads in Niger State.
“In the operation that is still ongoing, 4 different vicious and notorious Kidnap for ransom gangs including those dealing in illegal possession of prohibited fire arms were dislodged and busted.
“Also arrested is a gang that is responsible for the killings of some security personnel on Kaduna-Abuja road and Abuja-Lokoja road recently.
“They equally confessed to have raped some of their victims. A total number of thirty one 31 suspected kidnappers and Armed Robbers were arrested in the operation.
“They confessed to the offence and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
“The arms and ammunition, kidnappers operational vehicles listed above and other properties belonging to some of their victims, who were rescued from the gangs, were recovered from them.
“Most of the suspects were identified by the victims and for being responsible for their kidnap.
The Police Public Relations Officer mentioned that investigation is being intensified to arrest the other suspects at large, adding that all the suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
He explained that while the operation is being sustained, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and commands to introduce new strategies in curbing kidnappings and other violent crimes on the highways and major roads in other States of the country.
The Commissioners are also to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide and make sure that detection of crimes are prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminals. The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts will be sustained throughout the country.
The Inspector General of Police however extend appreciations and gratitude to the communities, towns and villages along Abuja-Kaduna and Abuja-Minna highways for the supports and assistance being rendered in terms of prompt information and complaints to the Police Personnel deployed in their localities that have led to so many successes for the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Idris, the renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to reduce crimes and criminality in the country is yielding positive results and remains unwavering.
