Police Smash Kidnapping Gang Led by DSS Agent/BUK Graduate
Maigari
A gang of kidnappers, allegedly led by one dismissed personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), has been smashed by the police after making hundreds of millions from victims abducted at traffic light spots in Abuja.
The police told Newsmakersng today that the arrested DSS personnel, 35-year-old Abdulrasheed Maigari, is a 2006 Political Science Graduate of Bayero University, in Kano, recruited into DSS as a Graduate Officer in September 2011, then dismissed and charged to court in 2015 for a N310million heist in Abuja.
According to the police, Maigari, who hails from Donga in Taraba State, joined the kidnapping gang after he was charged to court and granted bail on November 28, 2016, following his arrest with some soldiers for stealing the N310million belonging to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
“He immediately joined this kidnapping gang in Abuja and became the Coordinator. He also rented two houses in Suleija, where the gang was keeping victims,” say the police.
The gang was smashed in a 5-day joint operation by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by ACP Abba Kyari, and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
From Left: Emeka, Ndubuisi, and Another Gang Member
Eleven suspects were arrested in Niger State with arms and ammunition.
They were paraded today in Abuja by the police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh.
Some victims kidnapped by the gang were identified as 67-year-old Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami (OFR), the former General Manager of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Managing Director of Nigeria Paper Mills in Jebba, and Chairman Gateway Insurance; one Ms Ngozi Dabiri, and one Mr Japhet and his wife, who paid N5million ransom after they were kidnapped at Gwarimpa area in Abuja.
They also collected N50million ransom from the owner of a Filling Station in Gwarimpa; N5million from two women abducted while driving in a Mercedes Benz SUV in Gwarimpa, and N2million from two ladies identified as university students abducted at Wuse 2, in Abuja.
Jimoh said, “Alhaji Salami was rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout, a 2-bedroom house rented by Maigari at a remote part of Suleja town in Niger State.
“One Ak47 Rifle with S/no 5163908, three Ak47 magazines loaded with 90 live rounds of ammunition and two pistols with 14 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the kidnappers.
“They usually trail their prospective victims driving expensive cars inside Abuja in the evening. They block and kidnap their victims at traffic lights, in the house or estate gates. They confessed to several kidnappings within Abuja City.”
Members of the Gang at a Police Parade in Abuja
The arrested suspects were named as: “Kelvin Emeka, a 28-year-old native of Owgu LGA in Enugu, who was earlier charged to Gwagwalada High Court in October 2016 with three others for kidnapping and armed robbery after kidnapping Ms Dabiri and several others in Abuja; the suspect and members of his gang were released by the Court on December 8, 2016 less than eight weeks after being charged for kidnapping and armed robbery; Ndubisi Prince Ozor, a 31-year-old native of Nsukwato LGA in Abia State; he was also charged to Court for armed robbery in November 2016 and was released on January 25, 2017; Sunday Tyavnor, a 33-year-old native of Ovi LGA in Nasarawa State; he is the arms dealer, who sold the AK47 Rifle used for the kidnappings for N470, 000 and the two Pistols for N60, 000 each. He was arrested in Nasarawa State.”
Others are “Zayor Alfred, a 23-year-old native of Obi LGA in Nasarawa State, who specialized in guarding kidnapped victims; he was arrested in the camp where a victim was rescued; Avah Joseph, a 25-year-old native of Ogbadibo LGA in Benue State accused of guarding kidnapped victims; Gabriel Friday, a 33-year-old native of Ogbadibo LGA in Benue, identified as the driver of the gang; Rajab Baba Ishiaka, a 22-year-old native of Wukari LGA in Taraba, identified as one of those guarding victims at the kidnappers camp; Ali Sani, a 27-year-old native of Takum LGA in Taraba, held for guarding victims at the camp; Nuhu Sule, 20-year-old native of Takum LGA in Taraba, also held for guarding victims at the camp, and 21-year-old Mohammed Abubakar from Mokwa, in Niger State, who was identified as the supplier of registered SIM cards to the suspects.”
Maigari told reporters that he was dismissed by the DSS because of his involvement in the theft of the N310million, adding that he met the gang members in prison custody where they struck a friendship.
“I joined the DSS in 2011 as a cadet officer, but I was dismissed from service over the theft of N310million from the senate president’s house and I was charged to court with others, but we were granted bail. I met Emeka in prison and he asked me to rent a house for which he gave me N300,000,” he said.
Newsmakersng learnt that detectives are making efforts to arrest the only remaining gang member at large.
Dipo Kehinde is an accomplished Nigerian journalist, artist, and designer with over 34 years experience. More info on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipo-kehinde-8aa98926
I think what these gangs gets involved in is as good as committing murders, therfore the penalty should be either life or death. I hope whatever severe punishment metted out would serve as deterrent to others.
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I think what these gangs gets involved in is as good as committing murders, therfore the penalty should be either life or death. I hope whatever severe punishment metted out would serve as deterrent to others.