The police have arrested two suspected kidnappers in Niger State and recovered from them N1.045 million suspected to be part of ransom payments.
The police state command disclosed this in a crime bulletin issued on Wednesday by spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun.
According to the bulletin, Aliyu Bodo, 23, of Dutsen-Gogo via Babana in New Bussa, and Tukur Ali, 22, of Bode-Saadu, Kwara State, were arrested during a joint rescue operation around a forest in Tanangi village via Kasanga in Mashegu Local Government Area.
The operation was conducted on 14 August by joint security teams and local vigilantes following a kidnapping incident in the area.
Police said six victims were rescued during the operation, while a search of the area led to the recovery of two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 Android phones belonging to the victims, five keypad phones, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, a brown bag and N1,045,200 allegedly representing the suspects’ share of ransom proceeds.
The command said the case was transferred from the State Security Service (SSS) to the police on 17 August and subsequently referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna.
The police said the suspects under interrogation named other members of their gang as Smallie, Tashaka, Dan-Sarki and Turo, who are still at large.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that the gang kidnapped 10 people along the Tegina-Makera Road and collected N14 million in ransom.
They also allegedly confessed that an AK-47 rifle and three pump-action rifles were in the possession of their accomplices and were being used to carry out kidnapping operations.
According to the police, some of the rescued victims later identified the suspects during an identification parade conducted at the SCID in Minna.
The suspects remain in police custody as investigation continues, particularly efforts to apprehend other members of the alleged gang.
The police said the suspects would be charged to court.
Store breaking, theft
The police also said it arrested two suspects in connection with alleged store breaking, theft and receiving stolen property in Maje Division of Niger State.
The command said the incident occurred on 21vAugust around the Second Gate area, where suspects allegedly entered a property near a filling station.
Items reportedly stolen included solar cables, an electric motorcycle, a bicycle and other valuables estimated at more than N1 million.
According to the police, one of the suspects, Abdulmajid Umar of Kaduna Road, was arrested during investigation.
The suspect allegedly led detectives to Ibrahim Adamu of Kaduna, whom police described as one of the alleged receivers of the stolen property.
Police said the stolen motorcycle and solar cables were recovered.
The suspects were subsequently charged to court and remanded in a correctional facility, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the case.
Counterfeit $100 notes
The command further reported the arrest of a 25-year-old man, Abubakar Muhammad of Soje, for allegedly possessing counterfeit United States dollar notes.
The suspect was arrested at about 11 p.m. on 12 September by officers attached to Tudun-Wada Division during a routine patrol along the Eastern Bye-pass, near the M.I. Wushishi Estate junction.
The police said the suspect was riding a Jincheng motorcycle when he was intercepted and searched.
Seven $100 notes, suspected to be counterfeit, were allegedly recovered from him.
He has since been transferred to the SCID in Minna for further investigation.
Suspects with Dane guns
The police also said two men arrested with five locally fabricated Dane guns have been handed over to the police by the Nigerian Army Artillery Brigade, Minna.
The suspects were identified as Aliyu Mohammed, 25, of Boku village via Gawu-Babangida, and Sheriff Garba, 40, of Fuka village via Lapai.
According to the police, the two men were intercepted at the Duma checkpoint on 15 September while allegedly transporting the firearms.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were taking the guns to supply them to a group of people.
Police said investigation into the matter is ongoing.
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Pistol, alleged TikTok threat
The command also reported the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol and three live rounds following an alleged attack in Bosso Local Government Area.
Police said a resident of Epigi village reported at Kpakungu Division on 6 September that he had been attacked by a man identified as Ezekiel David while grazing around Kpaidna village.
According to the police, the victim managed to disarm the suspect and brought the locally fabricated pistol and three live rounds to the police.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspect, while investigation continues.
In a separate incident, police said its officers attached to the Suleja Area Command arrested a 23-year-old man, Alhassan Hussani of Baban-Tunga, Suleja, over a TikTok video allegedly threatening members of the public.
The suspect was arrested on 2 September after he was reportedly seen in the video brandishing a cutlass and knife and threatening to attack people unless they voted for a particular politician.
Police said the suspect said he made the video to solicit money from the politician and denied being instructed by anyone to make it.
The command said investigation into the matter was ongoing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun, urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
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