Yemi Akinsuyi/
The Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by the Commander, DCP Tunji Disu has smashed an 8-man gang accused of the kidnap-murder of Pa Dufwan Dariye, the father of former Plateau State governor and former Senator representing Plateau State, Joshua Dariye.
Pa Dariye was kidnapped in June 2020 and after eight days, his decomposing body was found by the bush side close to his village in Horop, Bokkus Local Government Area of Plateau State after collecting N10 million ransom.
Jethro Ngusen aka Baba Mai-Tuwo told reporters in Abuja today that his gang killed the victim by mistake.
He said: “I didn’t plan to kill Baba Dariye, but the mistake has been made. What I planned, was just to kidnap him and extort money from his son, Joshua.
“We are neighbours from the same village, Horop, in Bokkus Local Government Area of Plateau State. Joshua spent eight years as a governor and another eight years as a Senator, but never assisted any of us his neighbours.
“Much as we tried to ensure he helped; he just didn’t want to help. That was why I decided that I will ensure that I get my own share of his money. I contacted some guys and they, in turn, got some Fulani kidnappers to help kidnap Baba Dariye.
“My boys took him to a forest where we negotiated the ransom. We were, eventually, given N10 million. Although I didn’t plan to order my boys to kill him, all I can ask for now is forgiveness for his death. As I said earlier, it was just a mistake. I only planned to collect ransom from his son. Please, forgive me.”
Other members of the gang paraded on Wednesday are 18-year-old Abubakar Mohammed, Ya’u Sadu aka Ya’u Kaban (40), Titus Ezekiel (35), Dauda Isah (30), Sunday Ibrahim (35), Mangwat Shumwar (30), and Henry Amos (35). Others are at large.
Mangnut, who confessed to having shot and killed the father of former Plateau State Governor, who is currently serving a jail term in a correctional centre, said he only carried out his boss, Mai-Tuwo’s order.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, while parading the suspects and others today, warned against the celebration of rich people with ill-gotten wealth.
He said: “As you can see, Mai-Tuwo didn’t feel bad about kidnapping for ransom. He sees it as a flourishing business. He’s only feeling bad for the killing of Pa Dariye. Masses should be wary of celebrating criminals because of their ill-gotten money.”
One of Pa Dariye’s sons, who was present at the parade, Dr Haruna Dariye, said he was shocked to hear Mai-Tuwo confessing to having kidnapped and killed his father.
He explained that apart from the fact that they are neighbours, the 57-year-old relative denied any involvement in the crime when preliminary investigation pointed at him.
“They didn’t allow my father to die peacefully in his old age. We were contacted by the kidnappers after eight days in their den with N10 million ransom paid, that our father has been released. They also told us where to pick him. On getting there, we found a decomposing body at the spot. We didn’t know that it was our father’s corpse.
“The kidnappers later told us that the decomposing body was our father’s corpse; that was after we had paid N10million ransom. This is barbaric. We are gravely pained. But we thank God and the Nigeria Police Force for unravelling the misery,” he said.
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