As the Nigeria Police intensifies its ‘operation absolute sanity’ along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, 40 more suspected kidnappers were over the weekend arrested in State.
This is as the police rescued three victims from the kidnappers’ den, who have since been reunited with their families.
The suspects, including a notorious gang leader, Ali Bello alias Zungi, his deputy, Alhaji Goma Shehu a.k.a Namagogo, the armourer Mohammed Muju’a, Danladi Hassan, Mohammed Abubakar, Daniel Owobi, Egwu Ogiri, Bashir Haruna, Shadrach Hosiah, Victor Yohanna, Suleiman Isah and Abbas Aliyu were the second batch arrested in one week by the special forces directed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to rid that axis of all criminal elements.
Others include Bala Isiya, Hafiz Jibrin, Aminu Mohammed, Abdullahi Adamu, Tukur Ado, Iliyasu Soda, Mohammed Musa, Aliyu Halilu, Ali Adamu, Ahmadu Ya’u, Shehu Habu, Ishakwu Ibrahim, Mustafa Ibrahim, Tanko Abdullahi, Jibrin Mohammed, Jibrin Wali, Tijjani Ahmad, Mohammadu Rabiu, Suleiman Mohammed, Dahiru Bello, Abdulkarim Bello, Mohammed Abubakar, Usman Abdullahi, Umar Garba, Abdulraman Amadu, Mu’azu Salisu, Bala Isiyaku and Mohammad Sani.
Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who paraded the suspects, disclosed that assorted arms, ammunition, charms and properties of their victims were recovered from them.
He said a locally made SMG, three AK47 rifles, a double barrel riffle, two single barrel guns, a rifle with telescope sight, three locally made pistols, a revolver gun with 7.62mm ammunition and five pump action guns, a revolver pistol, 30 live cartridges, 77 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 10 9mm ammunition were recovered.
Others include two magazines, assorted charms, five laptops and five IPADs belonging to their victims, assorted mobile phones, wristwatches and jewelleries.
Moshood said: “The deployment of the Operation Absolute Sanity personnel by IGP Ibrahim Idris to tackle the cases of kidnappings in recent times on Abuja-Kaduna Highway have been yielding positive results.
“The operation comprises Special Police Force, Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Units, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, the Force Intelligence Branch with headquarters at Rijanah, Kaduna State.
“The joint Police team are under strict mandate to rout out kidnap for ransom and armed robbery gangs that have been terrorizing the Abuja-Kaduna Highway in recent times. The operation is to complement and augment the on-going Joint Police/Military operations on ground.
“After the arrest and parade of 32 suspected kidnappers and their caches of arms, ammunition on July 31, at Kateri on Abuja-Kaduna Highway, intensified efforts by police personnel of operation Absolute Sanity in the last few days resulted in the arrest of additional 40 suspects and recovery of large caches of arms, ammunition and other exhibits.
“The identified kidnappers’ dens, hideouts, camps and other black spots in the forest along Abuja-Kaduna Highway were stormed and raided by the operatives and in the process three victims were rescued unhurt without payment of any ransom. They have been reunited with their families.
“Some of the victims have identified most of the suspects as the people that kidnapped them. All the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes. They will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
“The IGP wishes to express deep appreciation and gratitude to the communities and people in the towns, villages along Abuja –Kaduna Highway for their cooperation and support. He implored travellers and other road users to support police personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
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