The suspect, Umaru Adamu Mairakumi, was also accused of armed robbery.
The command further described Mairakumi as a notorious cattle rustler. According to the command’s spokesman, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Mahmood Mohammed, wanted Mairakumi was already declared in connection with over 17 kidnapping cases. Mohammed said: “He’s also wanted for armed robbery, cattle rustling and has kidnapped 20 victims for ransom. The ransom ranged from N2 million and above.
At least, over 200 cows were rustled by the suspects and his gang members.” Mohammed continued: “Some of his victims include one Saleh Isah of Zidi village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area, Bauchi State. Isah, sometimes in September, 2015, was shot on his lower abdomen with an AK47 rifle, his 45 cows and 85 sheep were carted away by the bandits. One AK47 rifle, 60 cows and 85 sheep were recovered from the suspect and his men.”
Mohammed said that in order to stem the tide of kidnapping, robbery and cattle rustling in the state, the police carried out series of operations, which led to series of arrests and recoveries. Mohammed further said that the syndicate, which specialises in car snatching and breaking and entry, had also been arrested. Mohammed stated: “So far, three suspects have been arrested and are now assisting the police to catch other fleeing members.
Exhibits recovered from the syndicate are one Barreta pistol, Macrov pistol, Dark blue Toyota Highlander Jeep, Toyota Corolla Saloon car, marked YGJ 133 AA, one fabricated master key, six rounds of 0.6mm live ammunition and two cartridges.”
It was also gathered that following an intelligence report, police arrested Ishiyaku Yahaya, 20, Usman Sallah, 20, aka Manu and Ado Mammal, 20. The suspects were alleged to have conspired with one Ruwa Adamu and Dogo, to storm the resident of 50 years old Alhaji Shuaibu Adamu of Zongoro village, Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
The police said the suspects shot and robbed Adamu of his Nokia phone, valued at N12, 000. Apparently not satisfied with shooting Adamu, the suspects kidnapped his pregnant wife, Hauwa Alhaji Shuaibu. The suspects were finally trailed to Dutsen Kir in Bauchi Local Government Area by policemen.
Mohammed said: “The victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with her relatives, without payment of any ransom. We also recovered a fabricated gun, two machetes and a knife.” In another development, Akwa Ibom State Police Command arrested two persons alleged to specialise in forging of West African Examinations Council Certificates and Akwa Ibom State Government appointment letters. Those arrested in connection with the forgery are Victor Joe, 30 and Nsikak Atte, 27, from Urue Offong/Uruko and Okobo local government areas respectively.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cordelia Nwawe, said that the two suspects were apprehended following intelligence reports. Some of the documents bore dates of May/June and December/November 2015 West African Examinations Council Certificates. The certificates were said to have been printed by Joe.
Nwawe said that one of the receivers of such certificates was caught, while presenting it for employment. One of the suspects, Atte, a graduate of Business Administration, who confirmed his involvement in the scam, confessed to have ventured into the illicit affairs because of harsh economic situation. He said he gave the fake appointment letters to only two persons.
According to him, the first person paid him N130, 000, while the second person paid him N90, 000. He said he used most of the money to take care of his sick mother and buried his late uncle. His words: “I was arrested because of forgery.
The economic situation in the country drove me into this mess! The hardship in the country and how to meet my daily needs; like taking care of my siblings, paying their school fees, and other things, pushed me into this.
“I also did it to get funds for the burial of my uncle and pay for my siblings’ school fees. I plead that justice be tempered with mercy; I’m pleading for forgiveness. Police have investigated and found out that I used the money for the purposes I mentioned.” Joe said that he collected only N3, 000 for printing West African Examination Certificates.
He added that a friend, asked him to assist him with May/June certificate. He recounted: “I’m a computer operator at Vico Computers, 110 Oron Road, in Oron Local Government Area. I was in my place of work, when this man came to ask me to assist him. He was the first and only person I ever printed certificate for.” Joe pleaded for leniency.
He said he didn’t know what pushed him into printing fake WAEC certificate for his friend. Following this development, the Akwa Ibom State Government had since placed embargo on employment conducted by the immediate past administration of Godswill Akpabio.
It was alleged that most of the employment letters issued, were discovered to be forged. The New Telegraph also learnt that the government was screening those employment letters, before issuing posting letters.https://newtelegraphonline.com/gang-leader-arrested-kidnap-20-victims/
No comments:
Post a Comment