The police, including operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Anti-Violent Unit of the FCT command, have successfully apprehended three kidnappers responsible for various abductions in the Bwari Area Council.
The three kidnappers identified as Idris Ishiaku (aka Yellow), responsible for surveillance; Bala Umar, and Dahiru Salisu, were among the 16 criminal suspects paraded by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, supported by the IRT Commander.
The arrest took place in Abuja. The kidnapping gang was captured following the deployment of technology, intercepting a call by Yellow informing his gang about the successful abduction of a wealthy civil servant. During the call, Yellow insisted on a ransom of N50 million for the release of the victim.
Yellow, a security guard and farmer residing in Bwari, confessed to participating in two kidnappings this year, making N600,000 and N500,000 respectively. His insistence on the N50 million ransom and the waiting process for its collection led to their arrest.
ACP Adejobi advised FCT residents to scrutinize those employed as security guards or housekeepers, cautioning that many might have questionable characters or work as surveillance for criminal gangs.
On another front, the police paraded gunrunners Ayuba Kamson, Samuel Musa, and Magaji Everest, who sold over 100 arms, including pistols and AK-47 rifles. Eleven pistols and rifles were recovered from them.
Additionally, Usman Yinusa and Samina Haruna, operating in Obajana and responsible for terrorising Kogi and Kaduna states, were arrested as part of a gang of gunrunners and kidnapping kingpins. Two AK-47 rifles were recovered after their arrest by the IRT.
The police highlighted that Chinaza Philips, arrested in Kaduna, was presently on bail from a high court in Kwali, having previously committed a kidnapping offense.
Despite insinuations, the police clarified that Chinaza was shot in the leg during a shootout while in police custody, refuting claims of any intent to hide information about his gang members. The arrested suspects will face thorough investigations to ensure justice is served.
