Kidnappers of Sierra Leonean Envoy got N1.5m ransom before Police arrested them.
The Nigerian Police force yesterday paraded 11 kidnapers including the gang leader, Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf and his 2nd in command, Garba Abubakar, both dressed in Nigeria Army Camouflage, who carried out the abduction of Major-General Alfred Claude-Nelson, the Sierra Leonean Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria on June 30, 2016.
The kidnap gang had earlier on, abducted an executive director of Dangote company (names with-held), along the same Kaduna-Abuja road
Leader of the gang, Yusuf told reporters that the sum of N1. 5million was paid by the Sierra Leone embassy to the kidnappers before the Police swooped on them and arrested the gang.
Asked how the gang came about the military camouflage they were using for the criminal operation and the AK 47 rifles which looked exactly like military weapons, the gang leader said one Musa who provided it for them was killed in a shootout with the police.
It was however gathered that the special team of investigators sent by the Acting IGP on the operation could not strike while the money was being paid because it might jeopardize the operation and lead to fatality.
Hence it was days later that the police went for the criminals.
The source also explained that the gang extorted a huge ransom for the executive director of Dangote, kidnapped just before Sallah celebrations and that it was after they had exhausted the ransom shared that they reassembled to kidnap the Deputy High Commissioner.
Briefing the media on the development during the parade, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Donald Awunah accompanied by the officer in Charge IGP Monitoring Unit, DCP Garba said, “In a coordinated operation based on intelligence and technical support, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police smashed an eleven man kidnap gang that had for some time terrorized Kaduna State, the FCT and other North-Central States of Nigeria.
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“This dare devil criminal gang was responsible for the abduction of the Sierra-Leonean Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Alfred Claude-Nelson on June 30, 2016, the Executive Director of Dangote Group and many other high profile kidnap for ransom in recent times.
“The modus operandi of these criminal elements includes mounting road blocks on highways in Military uniforms, surprise attack on unsuspecting motorist and relocating from one point to other in the forest with their victims to avoid detection and arrest.
Continuing DCP Awunah said “In order to halt the apparent trend in the increase of kidnap for ransom, armed robbery and other anti-social behaviours, the Ag.IGP Ibrahim Idris has reorganized the tactical operations teams to tackle crime and criminality throughout the country.
“To this end, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the IGP Monitoring Unit and the Nigeria Police force on July 2, 2016 carried out tactical surveillance of the Abuja-Kaduna axis and all the adjoining States.
“This coordinated operation led to the arrest of eleven members of the notorious gang that has been terrorizing the North-Central States of the country with arms and ammunition recovered from them.
The Team’s Operatives also recovered three (3) AK 47 rifles; three (3) AK 47 rifle magazines loaded with ninety rounds of ammunition and two (2) sets of Military camouflage uniforms.
The suspected kidnappers in Police custody are: Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf, Garba Abubakar, Yusuf Adamu, Hussaini Musa, Shuaibu Idris, Usman Bello, Musa Ali, Muhammadu Abubakar, Suleiman Abubakar, Gambo Ibrahim, Balarabe Mohammadu.
“Investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court as soon as it is concluded” Awunah said.
“Similarly, Acting IGP Ibrahim Idris has ordered the same Intelligence based operations throughout the federation to flush out all criminal elements” he said.
“Also, the IGP has directed the State Commissioners of Police and Technical/Operation Commanders to improve the response rate on issues of crimes and criminality, assuring law abiding citizens of protection of their fundamental human rights.
“Acting IGP Idris has assured all members of the Diplomatic community of their safety and adequate security in Nigeria” he further said.
END.
