Kidnappers terrorizing Abuja-Kaduna Express Way arrested

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested a gang of kidnappers that had been terrorizing Abuja-Kaduna Express Way.

According to the police, eight suspected kidnappers, who are members are now presently in police custody.

The gang is said to be behind the abduction of DSP Munir, attached to Airwing Force Headquarters Abuja. The gang also abducted a retired Police Sergeant, driver to the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, five Students of ABU and Nuhu Bamalli University.

The students are; Idris Goga, Simon Terna, Kazzah Bulus, Ibrahim Kalin, and Augustine Climax.

Climax was later killed and his corpse dumped in the river by the kidnappers.

Many of the victims, including the Police DSP have positively identified the gang leader, his second and third in command.

Suspects further confessed that because of the massive deployment of security forces in their area of operations by the IGP, most of their gang members relocated from Rijana village to their respective home towns.

They also disclosed that there are two major groups of kidnappers operating within Rijana Axis of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

The suspects are said to be assisting IRT operatives in tracing the second group.

The police recovered victim phones, N17, 000 of 500 mints belonging to victims, SIM Cards, Charms, Cutlasses and two pairs of Army Uniforms.

The suspects have been identified as Adamu Mamman 35, aka Master, leader of the gang, Ali Rabo aka Blacky, second in command, Umar Antigo 27, informant, Shehu Idris Shagari 27, third in command and Awwalu Ahmadu 27, aka Mota.

Other suspects, who are receivers, are Babangida Abdullahi 31, Usman Abdulmumin 27 and Ahmad Abdullahi 31.

Mamman is said to be a native of Amana village Kaduna State, Rabo a native of Liman Ibada village Kaduna State, Antijo, anative of Rijana village, Shagari is a native of Gadan Gayan village Kaduna, while Ahmadu is from Rijana village Kaduna State.

The downfall of the gang started after the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, gave patrol vehicles to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Kidnapping Units, STS and IRT.

The presentation of the vehicles was to enable the policemen to fast track the arrest of the gang members.

The police would later arrest the gang leader of the kidnappers, his second in command and his third in command. The police also arrested five other members of the gang.

A police source said: “The suspects were arrested by operatives of the IGP-IRT with support from Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU). The suspects were arrested on June 15, 16 and 17.  Suspects confessed that they decided to release their last victim and proceed to go see their family members in their respective villages before IRT operatives arrested them at Maraban Jos, Anguwa Pama, Sabon Gayan and Rijana village all in Kaduna State.”

It was further gathered that all the suspects have made confessional statements, admitting to several kidnappings of motorist and passengers along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.”