The police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division,Niger state police command om 20th June,2021 at about 0130hrs arrested three suspects; namely; Danjuma Mohammed aged 22yrs,Mohammed Yasin aged 20yrs,Mohammed Usman age 25yrs, all ‘m’ of Barkin Saleh, Minna for conspiracy and kidnapping.
On 26th May,2021 at about 0935hrs, an incident of suspected kidnapping was reported at Tudun-Wada Division that a 9yrs old boy was suspected to have been abducted by unknown persons from a school premises along Shiroro road, Minna at about 0745hrs. The parents were contacted to pay a ransom of N500,000 by an unknown caller, but the boy was later found around Lamgbeji area of Barkin-Saleh at about 1900hrs after he escaped from the abductor while the case was under investigation.
In a related development, incident of kidnapping of a 9yrs old boy from David Mark road, Minna by unknown person(s) was also reported on 11th June,2021at about 1700hrs at the same division and the parents were equally contacted for a ransom of N45million. The parents were made to pay a sum of N300,000 as agreed ransom through an account number sent to them before the victim was released on 13th June,2021.
The Police operatives swung into action and arrested Danjuma Mohammed at Barkin-Saleh who also led the Police to the principal suspects; Mohammed Yasin and Mohammed Usman.
Mohammed Yasin, during interrogation confessed to the crime and narrated that he perpetrated the act with Mohammed Usman and one Almajiri now at large. The Almajiri was used to open a bank account with fake details where the ransom was paid and Danjuma acted as informant.
The following exhibits:A sum of N230,000,Two ATM cards,One MTN sim card,Two identity cards,Two AEDC utility bill,Eight passport photographs,Two postcard photographs ,One Military camouflage face cap ,One Tecno handset,Two cutlass covers,One axe,One saw,One sword,Four knives,One iron rod,Three calabash and Assorted charms were recovered from the suspects, while effort to arrest the other accomplice is ongoing.
Also ,on 18th June,2021 at about 1600hrs, Police operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division arrested one Victor Francis age 23yrs ‘m’ of Dikko area of Gurara LGA for threat to life and attempted kidnapping.
A complaint of threat to life and attempted kidnapping was reported at Gawu-Babangida Division on 23/06/2021 at about 1200hrs that a female victim of the same address received an anonymous call from a suspected kidnapper who threatened to kidnap and slaughter her, if she fails to raise an amount of N50,000 as ransom which the victim later paid through an account number sent to her.
Similarly, on 4th June,2021another female victim received call from an unknown caller and threatened to kidnap her husband. The caller threatened further to kidnap the husband to Kabo forest in Dikko area of Gurara LGA.
The Police operatives swung into action and commenced a thorough investigation into the incident which led to the arrest of the said Victor Francis at Nepa area of Dikko. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have been the unknown caller who threatened the two victims and he intended to request for a sum 0f N500,000 from the second victim.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect is a relation to the second victim and he also lived with the family of the first victim through which he gained access to information about both victims.
Items recovered from the suspect included: One maxphone handset,Two Glo sim cards,Two Airtel sim cards.
All suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile ,police has advised members of the public, most especially parents/guardians and school proprietors to always be vigilant and monitor their wards/students while in the school premises or at any other location.
Home-owners were equally admonished to be careful about admitting strangers into their homes to avoid being a victim of circumstances as the Command shall continue to do the needful in ensuring a secured environment.
