Police Parade Vicious Robbers, Kidnappers, Responsible For The Death Of Ex- Commissioner, Others, Along Abuja-Kaduna Highway
The police in Abuja on Wednesday, paraded eight vicious and notorious suspected robbers and kidnappers, said to be allegedly responsible for the death of a former Commissioner in Katsina State, Prof. Halimatu Idris on 22 July.
The eight suspects were also responsible for the recent killings, kidnappings and armed robbery attacks on Kaduna-Abuja-Kano roads including the attack on the Director, National Agricultural Research Extensions and Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Mohammed Othman, and abduction of a mum and her seven-month baby.
The police said six of their victims were rescued and the suspects were caught after a gun battle with special forces.
The suspects, Lawal Tukur, 40; Sulaiman Sani, 27; Abubakar Ahmad, 30; Abubakar Adamu, 33; Yahaya Musa, 33; Kabiru Bala, 23; Rufai Tukur, 26 and Shehu Audi, 32, had unleashed terror on road users on Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway before their arrest by operatives of Operation Absolute Sanity.
Sani and Adamu confessed to have killed four persons, the police said, adding that Bala kidnapped Rahinatu Shehu, 51, a mother, Aisha Sani, 23, with her seven-month-old baby at their Mararaba Guga town, Giwa Local Government home.
Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said two AK47 rifles, three pairs of fake military uniforms, cutlasses, motorcycle as well as Shedda cloth and other items belonging to their victims were recovered from the suspects.
He said their arrest followed an order by Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris (IG) that those responsible for the July 22 murder of the former commissioner and other heinous crimes in the axis should be arrested.
“Investigation is in progress and effort is being intensified to nab other suspects. They will be arraigned after investigation,” said Moshood.
He said operatives and equipment had been deployed in the axis to ensure safety, adding that the IG has directed the return to Kaduna State, the Police Mobile Force (PMF) squadrons in MOPOL 1, 47 and 61, who were on special duties outside.
The spokesman said: “PMF units of the Squadrons in MOPOL 1 Kaduna, MOPOL 47 Zaria and MOPOL 61 Kafanchan on special duties outside the state have been ordered by the IG to return to Kaduna State to tighten security, particularly on Kaduna-Abuja highway, Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Kaduna-BirninGwari-Zamfara-
On the situation in Zamfara, he said peace had been restored, adding that more policemen were deployed following the attack on Kodi village in Zurmi Local Government on July 24, during which four people were killed.
“The Force is embarking on police crime prevention, visibility and confidence building patrols. The people in the affected villages have started returning to their homes. Thirty-five bandits have been arrested in connection with the recent attacks in villages in Zamfara State. Six AK47 rifles, 15 locally-fabricated guns, 183 AK47 ammunition and seven live cartridges were recovered from the bandits. The suspects have made useful statements to the police and confessed to the killings.”
Read the rest of the Press Release below:
Lawal Tukur a.k.a Sawaita 40yrs – The Leader of the Gang
Sulaiman Sani a.k.a Maude 27yrs – Principal Suspects (Confessed to have Killed Four (4) People )
Abubakar Ahmad a.k.a Buzu 30yrs native of Sabon Fegi town
Abubakar Adamu a.k.a Gurgu 33yrs native of Tashan Zomo town – Confessed to have Killed Four (4) People
Yahaya Musa 33yrs – Principal Suspects
Kabiru Bala 23yrs native of Shika Town – kidnaps women and children particularly the Kidnap of Rahinatu Shehu ‘F’ 51yrs, Aisha Sani ‘F’ 23yrs and her Seven (7) Months old Baby at their residence in Mararaba Guga town, Giwa LGA along Kaduna-Zaria road
Rufai Tukur 26yrs Native of Tashan Zomo town who runs errands to the Notorious Gang
Shehu Audi 32yrs of Tashan Zomo in Kaduna State – kidnaps women and children particularly the Kidnap of Rahinatu Shehu ‘F’ 51yrs, Aisha Sani ‘F’ 23yrs and her Seven (7) Months old Baby at their residence in Mararaba Guga town, Giwa LGA along Kaduna-Zaria road
EXHIBITS
Two (2) AK47 Rifles
Three (3) pairs of suspected fake military uniforms
Cutlasses
Motorbike
Shedda Cloth and other properties belonging to some of the victims
2. As part of measures to restore safety and normalcy on the Abuja-Kaduna, and Kaduna-Kano Highways, the IGP ordered additional deployments of Police personnel and vehicular patrol teams to re-gird Operation Absolute Sanity to rid the routes of these bandits and hoodlums.
3. Secondly, all Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units of the PMF Squadrons in MOPOL 1 Kaduna, MOPOL 47 Zaria and MOPOL 61 Kafanchan on special duties outside the State have been ordered by the IGP to return back to Kaduna State to beef-up security in the State, particularly on Kaduna-Abuja highway, Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Kaduna-BirninGwari-Zamfara-
4.The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) working on reliable intelligence embarked on massive raid of identified kidnappers dens, hideouts and black spots on Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highways. The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) personnel engaged the bandits in a shootout that lasted several hours and at the end effect the arrest of the eight (8) suspects and recovered from them the listed exhibits. Six (6) of their victims were rescued from captivities.
5.All the suspects confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes.
6. Investigation is in progress and effort is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large. They will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
7. Zamfara State: Normalcy has been restored with additional deployments of Police personnel after the attack on Kodi Village in Zurmi Local Government Area on 24th July, 2018 where Four (4) people were killed. The Force is already embarking on Police Crime Prevention, Visibility and Confidence Building Patrols. The people in the affected Villages have started returning to their homes.
ii. Arrest:
Thirty Five (35) Bandits have been arrested in connection with the recent attacks in some villages in Zamfara State.
iii. Six (6) AK47 Rifles, Fifteen (15) Locally Fabricated Guns, One Hundred and Eighty Three (183) AK47 Ammunition, Seven (7) Live cartridges were recovered from the Bandits
iv. All the suspects have made useful statements to the Police investigators and confessed to the killings in the affected villages.
