* Recover 61 firearms, 376 ammunition, 22 cartridges, N2m cash
Operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Special Tactical Squad (FIB-STS), following directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to clampdown on the perpetrators of crimes and criminality, as well as cutting off their supply of arms, have successfully effected the arrest of 31 suspects connected with major violent crimes including kidnapping, culpable homicide, rape, unlawful possession of firearms etc.
The FIB-STS also recovered a total of 61 firearms including 41 AK-47 rifles, 8 Type 06 rifles, 4 Light Assault Rifles (LAR), 4 pump action guns, 2 locally made firearms, 1 G3 rifle, 1 dane gun, 376 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, and N2million cash from the suspects in the course of investigations.
Prominent among the cases include a case of kidnapping where the duo of Aminu Lawal (aka Kano), and Murtala Dawu (aka Mugala), both working in synergy with the kidnap kingpin known as Yellow Ashana, confessed to the kidnap and murder of two police officers and one vigilante in 2021.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also stated that the suspects confessed to the kidnap of students from the Greenfield University in Kaduna State, and the mindless murder of five victims before the payment of ransom, and eventual release of the others.
Intelligence shows that there area of operations include Dan Hunu, Kekebi, Dan Busha Rido, Maraban Rido, and Kumi Sata, all in Kaduna State. FIB-STS operatives caught up with them in March, 2022, after being on their trail upon the mention of their names in connection to the kidnapping of Bethel Baptist School students in 2021.
Similarly, a five-man trans-border syndicate who carries out kidnapping operations in between Adamawa State in Nigeria, and Burha, Fituha, and Kesu in Cameroun were arrested. The gang, comprising Abubakar Mohammed (28 years old), Shehu Mohammed (38 years old), Abdullahi Ali (30 years old), Abubakar Ali, (18 years old) and Hussaini Sule (18 years old), all males from Mubi, Adamawa State, targets wealthy individuals who possess beautiful houses or cars.
They confessed to the kidnap and multiple rape of a newly wedded woman at Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State whom they released upon receipt of N1million ransom. They were apprehended by operatives of the FIB-STS after collecting a ransom sum of N2million for Alhaji Moni of Buladega Village on May 11, 2022.
Operatives of the FIB-STS also apprehended the duo of Umar Muhammed (40 years old) from Mitchika in Adamawa State, and Musa Buba (29 years old) from Hong in Adamawa State, who are famous for their kidnapping activities. They were arrested at the market, upon credible intelligence that they would be there to buy food items for their kidnap victims. They confessed to many heinous crimes including the killing and beheading of Alhaji Mai Gome, even after ransom payment had been made.
Commending the FIB-STS operatives for the successes recorded, the IGP assured that all criminal elements will be smoked out of their hiding places and would answer to their crimes in due course.
The Force spokesamn also disclosed that all the suspects will be arraigned in court, once investigations are completed.
