Matilda Omonaiye/
Eighteen more suspected kidnappers and bandits have been arrested and several arms and ammunition recovered by policemen on Operation Puff Adder across the country.
Police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, reveals in a statement today that sequel to “the arrest of the ‘Spiritual Father’ of kidnappers and bandits operating in the Northern part of the country, one Mallam Salisu Abubakar, Police detectives attached to Operation Puff Adder, through a series of detailed, intensive and sustained investigative operations, successfully arrested 18 more notorious kidnappers and armed robbers at different times and places across the country”.
Mba added that a total of 22 AK 47 rifles, five locally fabricated pistols and a cache of live ammunition were recovered from the bandits.
The statement further says: “The combined team of crack detectives from IRT, TIU and other Operatives, using actionable intelligence obtained from the spiritual god father of the kidnappers and other multiple sources, tactically “smoked out” the kidnappers and bandits from their hide-outs in Birnin Gwari, Rijana, Katari, Mai Daro and Buruku Forests in Kaduna State before they were eventually arrested at different locations and times in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kogi states respectively.
“Meanwhile, Police investigations have positively linked the arrested suspects to some of the most heinous crimes committed in Kaduna State and its environs in recent times. Specifically for example, Abubakar Ibrahim alias Dan Habu, aged 37 years and a native of Kabam in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who was arrested on the 15th April 2019 at Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, confessed to the kidnapping and gruesome murder of HRH King Agom Adara of Kajuru LGA and many other kidnappings and murders. Similarly, the arrested gang members were also indicted by investigations for the kidnap and murder of Mallam Yakubu Usman, 40-year-old male of Jere LGA, Kaduna State and many other crimes.”
Mba listed the arrested suspects as: Abubakar Ibrahim Alias Dan Habu, 37, a native of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State; Johnson Okafor 44, native of Anambra State and resident of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State; Shaibu Iliyasu alias Smally, 20, a native of Rijiana Kaduna Road, Abuja; Ishaik Dabo Alias Keke 38 from Maraban, Jos, Igabi LGA of Kaduna State; Mohammed Nasiru 25, a native of Manunfashi LGA of Katsina State; Aminu Haruna 25, from Galadimawa Village in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State; Shafiu Alhaji Gudau, 25, a native of Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State; Auwalu Hamisu 24, from Tashan Fulani Village in Manunfashi LGA of Katsina State; Ado Ya’u, 35, from Rigoji Village in Kafur LGA of Katsina State; Ibrahim Yusuf, 30, from Kujama Village, Kaduna State; Ibrahim Audu, 22, from Kujama Village Kaduna State; Salisu Ajah, 50, a native of Galadimawa Village, Giwa LGA Kaduna State; Nasiru Umaru, 25, from Manumfashi LGA Katsina State; Magaji Abubakar, 27, from Kujama Village Kaduna State; Salisu Ali, 18, from Kujama Village, Kaduna State; Lawal Shadari, 22, from Rijiana Village Kaduna State; Junaidu Lawal, 18, a native of Rijiana Village Kaduna State and Usman Musa, 43, a native of Rijiana Village, Kaduna State.
Mba stated: “Although, the suspects belong to different loose, fairly independent but vicious criminal gangs, their operations are centrally coordinated by their spiritual godfather Mallam Salisu Abubakar. Efforts are currently being intensified to arrest other gang members still at large, and recover all weapons in the gangs’ armoury.”
While commending his men for this and many other feats, the IGP re-assured that the Nigeria Police working in concert with other security agencies would not rest on their oars until kidnappings and other violent crimes are subdued, and sanity restored to the land.
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