Ops Absolute Security: Police Smash Emerging Kidnapping, Armed Robbery Gangs; Arrest 16 suspects.

Operation Absolute Security, the Special Anti-Kidnapping Police Operation has successfully smashed several emerging kidnapping and armed robbery ganga along the Kaduna-Abuja-Funtua highway.

Consequently, the Police on Thursday paraded 16 kidnapping/armed robbery suspects arrested by Police Special Forces deployed for the operation.

Speaking during the parade, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood disclosed that the suspects’ who comprise of various criminal gangs, were fished out from their hideouts and dens located along the stretch of highway in Niger, FCT, Kaduna and Katsina states among others.

“The Commander of the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) and his personnel under the Operation Absolute Sanity stormed and raided some identified kidnappers den, camps, Black-spots  and Criminal hideouts in the forests located in the FCT, Niger and Kaduna States and successfully smashed four (4) notorious gangs and arrested the following sixteen (16) suspects in the act of kidnapping and collection of ransom’ he said.

Moshood continued, “Some of their victims’ (names withheld) were rescued from their captivity unhurt and were reunited with their families.

“Some of the suspects were also arrested for armed robberies and multiple car snatching.

He listed the gangs as ssuspected kidnappers and armed robbers in fake military uniforms, suspected car snatchers, kidnap for ransom, armed robbery and murder suspects responsible for killing of a policeman, suspected one chance/419 arrested with thousands of fake dollars and Nigerian currency

 The suspects include ABDULKAREEM ISAH 48yrs,  ohammadu Mustapha 25yrs, Yunusa Mohammed 40yrs,  Ahmadu Musa 23yrs,  Bashir Yero 30yrs,  ABDULLAHI MOHAMMED,   TANKO ISAH,   USMAN ADAMU,  YAKUBU SULEIMAN,  USMAN IBRAHIM,  AHMED SULEIMAN,   ISAH SULEIMAN,   ABDULMALIK SADIQ,  USMAN BAWA,  SANI AHMED,  and  ALEX EGOR.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include 2 AK47 RIFLES, 1 SMG OFN MODE 12 GUN, 1 LOCALLY MADE REVOLVER PISTOL, 3 PUMP ACTION GUNS, 2 BERRETTA PISTOL, 1 AIR RIFLE, 85 ROUNDS OF 7.62X39mm AMMUNITION,  10 ROUNDS OF 9mm AMMUNITION,   6 ROUNDS OF 380 AUTO.

Other recovered exhibits include 3 LIVE CATRIDGES, 5 AK47 MAGAZINES, 1 FABRICATED MASTER KEY, 2 TOYOTA COROLLA CARS, 1 TOYOTA MUSSCLE CAR, 1 TECHNO PHONE, 2 PAIR OF MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM and   ONE BOX OF FAKE DOLLAR CURRENCIES . 

Moshood said, “On 6Monday 6th November 2017, after a sustained surveillance and raid of the criminal hideouts and kidnappers den by the men of Operation Absolute Sanity comprising the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) raided identified kidnappers dens, camps, armed robbers and Car Snatchers in their camps, Black spots and Criminal hideouts in the forests located in the FCT, Niger and Kaduna States and successfully smashed four (4) vicious and notorious gangs in the process arrested 16 suspects in the act of kidnapping and collection of ransom, car snatching and armed robbery.

“All the suspects arrested confessed to the crime and admitted to the various roles they played in the commission of these capital offences. They will be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation. Investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.

 Meanwhile he said, “The Inspector-General of Police has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and State commands across the country to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives  to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide throughout this period to the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities and beyond.

They are also to make sure that detection of crimes that couldn’t be prevented is prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminal. The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts, black spots will be sustained throughout the country.

“The Inspector General of Police wishes to extend sincere appreciations and gratitude to the people in the communities, towns and villages along Abuja – Kaduna, Abuja – Minna – Bida, Birnin Gwari Funtua, Abuja – Lokoja and other highways for the supports and assistance being rendered in terms of prompt information and complaints to the Police Personnel deployed for these operations.

“The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to reduce crimes and criminality in the country to the barest remains unequivocal and unwavering.”

CSP JIMOH O. MOSHOOD

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS