The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team, in collaboration with the Taraba State Police Command, have apprehended a total of eleven (11) notorious kidnapping suspects in Taraba State for their complicity and various criminal roles in the recent trend of kidnapping incidents in Taraba State, including the kidnapping of a serving Nigeria Customs Service personnel, the kidnapping of a relative of the Emir of Jalingo, and the killing of a Police Sergeant in Jalin.
During operations on several suspect hideouts across the state, the police team discovered seven AK47 rifles, two (2) Beretta pistols, one hundred and twenty-one (121) rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, four (4) magazines, illicit substances, and other incriminating things.
The suspects were apprehended after the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, dispatched operatives from the Intelligence Response Team to Taraba State to assist the Taraba State Police Command in quickly containing the disturbing trend of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes in the state.
The suspects, Luka Adam, Shuaibu Nuhu, Moses Amos, Peters Mashi, Ahmadu Mallam, Adamu Mohammed, Dahiru Mallam Dalha, Gambo Isah, Sanusi Ahmadu, Mallam Mohammed Mauludu, and Ibrahim Idi, are all Taraba State residents.
A statement issued by the Force’s Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba said investigations further revealed that the modi operandi of the suspects include trailing individuals – Business owners, Government Functionaries, motorists with flashy and exotic cars, etc – to their houses and thereafter planning and executing the kidnap of such persons. They also collect huge sums of money as ransom from relatives and friends of their victims before their release.
The Police in the course of investigations equally identified and raided various criminal hideouts where kidnap victims are usually kept. While cache of weapons and other incriminating items were recovered from the hideouts, all the kidnap victims held hostage at the various hideouts were carefully and successfully rescued unhurt and reunited with their families. Meanwhile investigators are intensifying efforts at arresting other suspects currently at large.
The IGP, while commending the good people of Taraba State for supporting the Police especially in providing useful information that aided the prompt apprehension of the suspects, assured that the Police will continue to work with all stakeholders in deepening the collective safety of the Taraba people. The IGP condoled the family of the late Sergeant Ogidi Habu and added that the Force will sustain efforts at improving public safety in all Nigerian communities.
All the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigations.
