October 13, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested at least 48 suspects for alleged kidnapping, culpable homicide, armed robbery, car theft, illegal possession of firearms and housebreaking.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba disclosed the development on Tuesday while parading the suspects at the IRT office in Guzape, Abuja
Mba told newsmen that the operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team led by DCP Olatunji Disu rounded up the 48 suspects across the country following credible tip-offs.
The Police PRO said that Abubakar Harilu, 36, was nabbed by the IRT for kidnapping one Binta Mohammed, 48, a cousin of his who gave him a loan for the purchase of tricycles.
The suspect reportedly lured Binta to the kidnappers’ den and instructed them to extort money and kill her after he failed to repay the loan she gave him.
According to Mba, fortunately for her, she escaped from the kidnappers in their hideout in Jigawa on the first day but landed in the den of other kidnappers but was able to make contact with the IRT Police team which led to the arrest of the suspect.
The Police also paraded two other kidnappers Salisu Abdullahi 28, and Babangida Usman, 21, who were said to belong to a very wicked and notorious kidnap gang that kidnapped a professor at ATBU Bauchi and one owner of a filling station in Kaduna State.
The same criminal gang group was also paraded for kidnapping a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Tony Bawa who was later released by the gang, among other crimes allegedly committed by them.
The police paraded three armed robbery suspects Abel Namfa, 23, Nankum Wasiu 32 and Jonah Patrick 25, who were in Jos for robbing a man of his Toyota Corolla car and sold it to procure ammunitions for criminal activities.
Some exhibits recovered from the suspects include one GPMG, three AK-47 rifles, 10 laptop computers, and some other arms and live ammunition.
Mba noted that most victims of kidnap were persons related to their captors.
He advised members of the public to cooperate with kidnappers if they fall victim for their own safety and to avoid being killed, adding that the police and other security agencies were not relenting on closing in on criminally-minded persons.
The Police PRO assured that all the suspects would be charged to the court after the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
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