Numerous breakthroughs have been recorded in the area of combating crime in Kaduna state. The smashing of a notorious syndicate group of Oseni Ibrahim, alias Iro, Ibrahim Kabiru, Ifayin Okeye and Ebele Precious made up of arm robbery gang, Car snatchers and Cattle rustlers with links within and outside Nigeria now has no hiding place as the police command is living no stone unturned in this direction. This revelation was made during a press briefing on the command’s achievements by the Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu who expressed his strong desire to rid off criminals to the barest minimal in the state. Zainab Tanimu was there for Top Celebrities Magazine. Excerpts…
“These hoodlums specialize in snatching expensive vehicles at gunpoint in Kaduna and neighboring states which they ferry and sell to one Alhaji Dauda of Maradi in Niger Republic. Exhibits recovered from the suspects among others includes 2 AK47 riffle, 3 life cartages, 4 vehicles of different makes, and anti vehicle tracking devices”.
In the same vein, one notorious Kidnapper on a tip off was nipped by the police.
“On the 16th May, 2016, at about 090hrs, our men of the Anti –Kidnapping team of the State Intelligent and Criminal Unit on a tip off arrested a 32 years old Yau Mohammed at Kasuwa Magani .The suspect on investigation confessed to be a kidnapper and major distributor and supplier of arms and ammunitions to bandits and kidnappers. He led the detectives to their hide outs in Kajuru LGA where members of the gang Mohammed Sani, Aminu Adamu and Adam Muhammed were arrested. Exhibits recovered includes, 1 locally made AK 47 riffle, 2 axes, 10 arrows, one empty locally made magazine, 8 universal chargers and 3 GSM phones. On the 18th of May, 2016, also, our anti kidnapping unit on a tip off raided a hide out of suspected Kidnappers at a thick forest in Kachia LGA and a total of 8 suspects were arrested, one locally made pistol, AK 27 riffle, 103 cows and 23 sheep were recovered. The recovered animals are kept in Kachia Division for onward transmission to the committee on cattle rustling. The Area Commandant of Kafanchan patrol team also arrested one Yakubu Abdullahi at Atiku village with AK 47, riffle. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain his criminal profile. On the 21st May, at 15.30 on a tip off, Abdullahi Muhammed 25yrs old, Awwalu Yusuf 25yrs and Shittu Idi 28yrs all of Jakadire village Kaduna state were arrested at Sabon Gayan village along Kaduna Abuja highway. Investigation revealed that they are the suspects who masterminded numerous Kidnapping and cattle rustling activities along Katari, Jere and Kujama axis. They would soon be arraigned in court. The special anti robbery squad of the CID on a tip off also arrested one Musa Rabo and Umaru Usman suspected to be cattle rustlers. They led the detectives to their hide outs at Chukun area where other members of their gang engaged the police in a fierce gun battle. Two additional suspects Lawal Iliya, alias akai Lawal Yusuf alias kishi were arrested. Other accomplices escaped into the thick forest. Items recovered were, 2 AK47, riffles, 7 rounds 7.62life ammunition and 300 cows. The cows have been handed over to the committee on cattle rustling. One Idris Iliyasu a 30yrs old of Trikaniya was also arrested on 22nd by the anti robbery squad. In the course of investigation the suspect agreed that he is a member of the cattle rustlers gang terrorizing Rigasa in Kaduna state and also mentioned some of his accomplices. One locally made gun and some ammunition were recovered from him. Among paraded suspects was an elderly man Idris Makera, a blacksmith who specializes in manufacturing and distribution of ammunitions to bandits. One notorious criminal, Umaru Zagi who engages in arm robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling along Kaduna Abuja road was picked up while Saleh Shaibu was arrested on a tip off in a house with a bullet wound. He was shot at Hayin Kogi by the owner of the resident where he went to steal cows.
Speaking on the ugly trend of kidnapping for ransom in the state, the CP solicits support of the public as his command is working assiduously to bring this to an end. He opens up on the N2million demand for ransom recently foiled.
“We arranged with the public and pretended that we were dropping the N2m. When the culprit came we picked him up and he led us to the man who sent him. 1million naira was also demanded. We partnered with the man whose life was threatened and we packaged the 1million naira and dropped it at the exact location demanded. Eventually, someone came for it and we picked him up. He said wait! Pointing, the man who sent me is on that tree. Unknown to us the man was watching our operatives when they were descending on him. Unfortunately, before we got to the tree, he had already taken to his heels.”
Disheartening is the revelation of one of the 2 female associates of the group paraded a prostitute by profession whom 2 pistols were recovered. According to her, she was not aware that her boyfriend was a thief until they were caught up by the wrath of the law.
Here is a sharp reaction from a man in mufti standing by my side.
“Na true! Wen nashi de hide the ammunitions and she no know the kind of job he is doing? What about the 2 pistols that were found with her? Is the boyfriend a military man? He brings her money yanfu yanfu and she spends it. Where is he working? How l wish is me she was telling that trash. I would have given her a dirty slap.”