In view of the ongoing onslaught against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in the state and in a proactive effort of the Command, based on credible intelligence from a reliable source, on 14th July,2022 at about 1630hrs, Police tactical team attached to Minna Area Command arrested one suspect,Alh. Bashiru Abdullahi aged 40yrs ‘m’ of Bangi, Mariga LGA
The suspect was arrested at Kontagora on the above mentioned date when he was planning and making effort to recruit armed men needed to perpetrate his usual kidnapping escapades.
During interrogation, Alh. Bashiru confessed that he planned to kidnap a former Local Government Council Chairman of Mariga and the father of a former Commissioner in the State.
He claimed that the former Chairman owed him a sum amount of five million, eight hundred thousand naira (N5,800,000) and that if the Chairman is kidnapped, he intend to realise ten million naira ransom from him.
He further confessed that part of his plan was to equally kidnap the father of the former Commissioner whom he owed about one million, three hundred thousand naira (N1,300,000) from a business transaction between them while he was expecting to get fifteen million naira ransom from the plan.
Further investigation revealed that sometimes in the month of March, 2022, the said Alh. Bashiru was suspected to have murdered his younger brother one Alh. Mamuda Abdullahi aged 35yrs ‘m’ of Bangi and when he was interrogated, he confessed to the act that he contributed money with his brother to the tune of seventy-nine million naira for a business purpose, but he suspected that his brother swindled him and he hit him with a stick on the head which resulted to his death. However, he told the family members that his brother was attacked and killed by bandits at Beri.
Meanwhile, the case is under investigation with a view to unravel other criminal acts of the suspect as well as unveiling and arresting other suspected members of his gang.
In another development, on 16th July,2022 at about 1600hrs based on a tip-off, Police operatives attached to the same Area Command arrested two suspects:Mohammed Aliyu aged 25yrs ‘m’ of Emitachigi village via Katcha LGA,Mohammed Ndako aged 30yrs ‘m’ of the same address, but based in Gurara area of Minna.
The Police operatives trailed the suspects to Paiko where they were arrested in the process of disposing a stolen motorcycle.
During interrogation, Mohammed Aliyu confessed that on 13th July,2022 at about 2030hrs, he was at Gurara junction where he boarded a motorcyclist to convey him to Gurara area and on reaching a point within the area, the suspect hit the motorcyclist ,by name Garba Aliyu ‘m’ of Barikichi area, Minna with a hammer on the head and fell unconscious.
The suspect went away with the victim’s motorcycle and later joined Mohammed Ndako in his residence within the area, while both of them took the motorcycle to Paiko for sell where they were apprehended.
The two suspects confessed further to have conspired and stole a motorcycle at Bida within last year (2021) and the motorcycle was sold at the rate of forty thousand naira (N40,000) to a yet to be identified person at Paiko.
Two motorcycles were recovered from the suspects, one belonging to the deceased while the suspect Mohammed Aliyu claimed that the other motorcycle belonged to his brother.
However, case is under investigation with a view to apprehend the receiver at Paiko and suspects will be arraigned in court as soon investigation is concluded.
Also on 2nd July,2022 at about 0520hrs, armed bandits/terrorists attacked Kuchi village via Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA and abducted nine persons.
Meanwhile, Police tactical teams with vigilante members were drafted to the area and five victims were rescued unhurt while the teams were still on the trail of the hoodlums for rescue of the remaining victims.
The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Monday Bala Kuryas, commended Nigerlites for giving such useful intelligence for proactiveness in ensuring protection of life and property while urging them to sustain such effort as security is a collective responsibility.
