War on Criminality: Taraba Police Records Successes: Smash/Arrest Several Kidnappers, Armed Robbery Gangs, and Members of Notorious ‘Ghana’ Militia; House Burglars and Rapists.

The Taraba State Police Command, in its determination to rid the state of dangerous criminal elements have successfully smashed several gangs particularly kidnapping and armed robbery gangs who had been terrorizing citizens and collecting ransom.

The Police have also arrested notorious gang members of the most wanted militia kingpin terrorizing Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa State, Terwase Agaza aka ‘Ghana’ after carrying out intelligence networking in the state.

Commissioner of Police, Taraba State, CP David Akinremi who made the disclosures also revealed the arrest of a Gun runner who was arrested with 3 AK 47 rifles, a G3, a Lar riffle and ammunitions while House breakers and Student rapists were also arrested.

Giving details of the arrests, Akinremi said, “Operatives of SARS acting on reliable intelligence on Wednesday 15^th November 2017, arrested aq 2-man armed robbery gang, Sani Hashimu and Yahaya Musa both of Mutum-biyu in Gassol LGA.

The 2 suspects who were picked up as passengers by one Iliyasu Bashir on his motorcycle on Monday 13^th November 2017, while on the Donga Nyivu village road, stabbed the cyclist on the back and took away his motorcycle.

The snatched motorcycle has been recovered and suspects will be arraigned in court.

Regarding the arrest of the notorious criminal belonging Ghana’s militia gang, Tersoo Tseke aged 25 years, CP Akinremi recalled that on Sunday 22^nd October, 2017, there was an armed robbery attack along Wukari-Takum road during which one Yamaduwe Antyo who was the second in command to the militia gang leader Ghana was killed.

This happened in a gun duel with operatives of police personnel attached to Takum division and a G3 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition was recovered.

However, the SARS of Taraba Command, determined to uncover the co-perpetrators of the attack embarked on intensive information and intelligence gathering. Consequently, Tersoo Tseke was was arrested in his hideout. He confessed to being one of the bandits who had a shoot out with the police.

He also confirmed being a member of Ghana’s militia group. Assorted charms and other incriminating items were recovered in his possession.

Regarding arrest of kidnappers, the police said, “On Monday 23 October, 2017, Police operatives attached to Wukari division, acting on intelligence arrested a 3-man gang namely Dantala Idi, Naziru Jafaru, a staff of NSCDC, Taraba Command and Yakubu Abubakar.

The suspects confessed to be responsible for kidnapping activities and other heinious crimesin Bantaje, Gidin, Doruwa and Wukari axis.

Police investigation further reveal that the suspects are members of a kidnapping syndicate which on 23^rd October 2017, attacked one Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Chief of Dantaje, in an effort to abduct him and set his Honda Hennessey ablaze.

Similarly, the gang was responsible for robbing one Yahaya Suleiman on the same date, of his laptop valued at N80, 000. The suspects also confessed that sometime on Tuesday 10^th October 2017, they attacked one Zakari Madi and also set his motorcycle ablaze.

Additionally, they confessed to sending threatening messages on several occasions to victims and collecting large sums of money on the grounds that failure to pay will lead to their kidnapping.

Operatives of SARS Taraba State also arrested 2 members of a kidnap gang after painstaking intelligence namely Nasiru Ibrahim and Tukura Abdullahi both of Sabongari village, Ardo-Kola LGA.

The 2 suspects had called one Alhaji mohammed adamu of Mallam Biyu village, Iware road and demanded that he dropped the sum of N2million at a location and if he fails to comply, he will be kidnapped. The telephone number used by the hoodlums was tracked and this led to the arrest of the suspects.

Investigation further reveal that the two men are members of a kidnap gang responsible for a number of kidnappings in Arda-Kola LGA.

In another development, 2 kidnappers, Johnson Yusuf and Angela Cosmas, female, were arrested at Mutum-Biyu for planning to kidnap Alhaji Isa Mohammed Tumba whom they had earlier telephoned and threatened to kidnap if he did not pay a large sum of money. The suspects admitted to the plan.

The Police while giving details of suspects caught for house breaking, said a serving Police Sergeant was arrested as an accomplice.

“On Thursday 26^th October 2017, operatives of SARS while on patrol along Mayo-Dassa area of Jalingo intercepted a 3-man gang of burglars at about 2 am. When cordon and search was carried out, 3 cutlasses, 2 battle axes, 3 knives and 3 face masks were recovered in a bag carried by one of them.

Investigation further revealed that the 3-man gang, Mansur Musa, Moradi Albat and Monday came from Mayo-Belwa in Adamawa state to carry out house breaking and burglary particularly in Jalingo metropolis and its environs.

Their confession led to the arrest of one Sgt Bitus Massalati attached to works department of the Taraba Police Command said to be an accomplice. Further investigation led police operatives to some of the houses where they had earlier carried out their heinous activities.

On the arrest of the arms dealer and recoveries, CP akinremi said, “Men of the Nigerian Army on Friday 17 November 2017, at a military checkpoint at city-gate in Jalingo intercepted a Honda Salon car with reg. Kano AA 101 KNN driven by one Micah Awin.

When the car was searched, 3 AK 47 rifles with 50 rounds of live ammunition, one LAR rifle with empty magazine and one Barreta rifle respectively were recovered. The suspect who was handed over to the police confessed to be involved in arms deals. His confession led to recovery of one G3 rifle by the police.

Furthermore, the police of Sunkani division arrested the rapists of a victim on Sunday 12 November 2017.

The suspects, students of Taraba State University, Samuel Abari and Ayuba David were arrested based on reported case of rape by one Rita Seth of Sankani.

The rape victim was met at a farm where she was working by the 2 suspects who forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. The suspects confessed to the crime and will be charged to court.

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