CRIME
Police Parades 108 Suspected Kidnappers, Armed Robbers, Others
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The Nigerian Police has paraded 108 suspects for armed robbery, trading of guns, banditry and kidnapping along Abuja – Kaduna express way at the Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) headquarters in Abuja.
Parading the suspects on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba explained that the criminals were apprehended in diverse operations conducted in various states of the country by the men of the IGP intelligence Response Team (IRT), and the IGP Special Task Force (STC).
Adding that the police had during the operations recovered from gang members to include 30 firearms, including A k47, locally made pistols, 1,520 live ammunition, illicit drugs and some cash.
According to Mba, the 108 suspects paraded were clearly linked with cases touching on kidnapping, drug dealing, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, illicit trade on weapons, unlawful possession of prohibited drugs and exchange of same and surprisingly the manufacturing of weapons.
He said one of the suspects, Abdullahi Ali, 29, a citizen of Niger, who specializes in altering the International Mobile Equipment Identity Number of stolen telephones which is supposed to avail both manufacturers and investigator keep an eye on product (phones) wherever they go, the altering of the number thereby throws them in darkness .
The suspect who hails from Maradi,Niger Republic, said he used apps to alter the IMEI of the telephones, adding that he was taught the skills by other suspects at large.
When asked how many phones he has changed their IMEI and how much each phone is charged?, he said ” I cannot remember the number exactly, but it should be more than 20 phones and the price varies from five hundred naira to one thousand naira depending on the phone”.
Meanwhile, some of the suspects who spoke to our correspondent decried challenges in their operations for the past three months due to tight security checks.
One of the suspects, Mohammed Mustapha, a 26 year old male from Kaduna, a kidnap suspect operating along the Abuja – Kaduna axis said this yesterday at the press briefing and parade of 108 suspects by police at the Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja.
Mustapha who said he is engaged in farming and kidnapping as a means of survival, lamented of being out of business for more than 3 months since the massive redeployment of security men at the Abuja – Kaduna express way to defend those plying the road.
The suspect who speaks in Hausa language, was translated to English language as :” we couldn’t operate for more than 3 months because of the massive security men at the high way, and we are not happy with the way the security men were deployed so we ran out of business for more than 3 months.
” I advise my fellow kidnappers to leave kidnapping, it is not work, I will help police to fish out others yet to be arrested”. Mustapha added.
Another, Mohammed Mamoda, a 40 year old man who was arrested for manufacturing of fire arms, fabricate a locally made Ak47 which he said function same as the other ones.
When asked how he has been manufacturing this guns without been educated? He responded :” No body thought me how to make them, I go to buy scrap irons and fabricate the Ak47 And there are functional, I tested them my self, I made them 11, their prices varies from eighty thousand naira to one hundred thousand naira” . Mohammed said.
Also Adamu Numan, 48yrs from Aliyah Local Government Area of Sokoto, a near by village from Niger Republic, who was arrested for trading fire arms affirmed his arrest and said ” I buy guns, and life rounds ammunitions from Mohammed Halilu in Niger Republic and sell them in Nigeria to bandits in Zamfara and kuduna states in Nigeria”.
” I usually buy Ak47 rifles at the rate N400, 000 to N450, 000 and sell like N650, 000 to N700, 000 each”. Adamu added.
“I have sold over 7 rifles and 200 ammunition to bandits. I have been into the business for over 3 years and this is the second time that I have been arrested”.
Numan told DAILY ASSET that he had supplied over 7 Ak47 rifles to bandits and made a profit of over N150,000 on each rifle before he was arrested.
CRIME
Police Detain 2 Suspects, Recover 25 Stolen Phones in Borno
The Nigerian Police Command in Borno has apprehended two suspects and recovered 25 stolen mobile phones during a stop-and-search operation along Damboa Road, in Maiduguri.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Daso explained that the suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubako, and Ibrahim Mohammed, were intercepted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Dec.
10 while riding a tricycle.He said that during the search, the operatives uncovered various mobile phones reportedly stolen from individuals across communities and villages along the Borno -Adamawa State border.
He identified some of the communities as Mubi, Tashan Alade, Miringa, Kwaya Kusar, and Biu Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to snatching the phones from their victims.
“The police have initiated efforts to return the recovered devices with their rightful owner.
“Also, the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.
Daso reiterated the commitment of the Police Commissioner in the state, Yusufu Lawal, to maintain public safety during the Yuletide season. (NAN)
CRIME
Niger Police Command Arrests Three Suspects over Assault on Council Boss
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
CRIME
Chief Imam’s Sallah Ram Stolen in Jos
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.