Operatives of both the IGP Intelligence Response Team, IRT and IGP Special Tactical Squad STS, on Tuesday paraded 71 armed robbers, kidnappers, drug dealers, car snatching syndicate and buyers in Abuja.
Also paraded were seven confessed kidnappers who owned up to abducting Chief Ibrahim Pada, the traditional ruler of Rubochi community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Recall that Pada was kidnapped from his residence in Rubochi on November 27, 2019, and was subsequently released after paying a N6 million ransom.
Parading the suspects, DCP Frank Mba,Force Public Relations Officer, supported by Commander of IRT DCP Abba Kyari and Commander of STS, DCP Kolo Yusuf said seven AK47 rifles, cartons of tramadol and sacks of ammonia used in making dynamites were recovered from the gangs.
A gang member, Umar Garba, said they were paid N6m ransom by Pada’s family members, adding that he got N50, 000 for praying for the success of the operation.
Garba, who is 53 years old said, “I offer prayers for criminals and I also give traditional medicine to people who consulted me. I have been offering spiritual support to criminal gangs for about six years.
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“I was not directly involved in the abduction of the Rubochi district chief, but I prayed for the success of the operation. After he was kidnapped, I was given N50, 000 as my share of the ransom.”
The Police also paraded a buyer of stolen vehicles, Johnson Alfa who claimed to have sold two Toyota SUV for N1.6m and a Toyota Corolla car for N400, 000.
Alfa explained that he purchased five anti-tracker equipment from an online store which he used in jamming trackers installed in vehicles by their owners.
He said, “I started engaging in buying stolen vehicles in May this year and I have so far bought six vehicles from the gang that brought them. I have sold two Toyota Venza SUVs at N800, 000 each and a Toyota Corolla for N400, 000. I also bought a Lexus RX350 from my suppliers but I am yet to sell it before I was arrested.”
He advised car owners against night trips, saying this was the favourite time for robbery operations.
Mba said four anti-trackers had been recovered from the suspect and cautioned online stores against selling certain security gadgets to the public.
Mba disclosed that the cartons of tramadol were intercepted in Bauchi on their way to Potiskum while the sacks of ammonia were recovered in Zaria, Kaduna State by police operatives.
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