The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has arrested a total of 32 notorious suspects for their involvement in crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery, arms smuggling, illegal possession of weapons, trading in illicit drugs, trans-border car theft, rape, amongst others.
This was made known by Force public relations officer, CP Frank Mba, stating that the police had also recovered 19 AK-47 rifles, one GPMG, three revolver rifles, two G-3 rifles, one SMG, one berretta pistol, 453 rounds of live ammunition of different calibre, 12 magazines and 17 stolen cars from the criminals during the follow-up investigations.
Mba said notable amongst the cases is the arrest of six notorious criminals involved in car theft in different parts of the country particularly Nasarawa, Port-Harcourt, FCT, Kebbi and Zamfara state.
He disclosed that the suspects smuggle the stolen cars through Nigeria international borders and deliver it to a major criminal receiver called Alhaji Garuba, who is currently on the run, in Niger Republic.
"Investigations revealed that the modus operandi of the suspects include snatching the cars at gun point and sometimes removing the cars from where parked especially crowded car parks like the Cinema, Church and Mosque.
"These cars are sold in neighbouring countries at give-away prices and sometimes delivered to Alhaji Garuba in exchange for illicit weapons. The INTERPOL unit of the Nigeria Police is already working with their counterparts in Niger Republic to arrest the fleeing suspects in order to bring them to book," he said.
CP Mba stated that one, Dayyabu Mohammed (27) of Soba LGA of Kaduna state, was arrested for illegal possession of five AK-47 rifles and 250 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
According to him, The suspect was arrested during a crackdown on bandits at Saminaka Forest in kaduna State by operatives of STS. Investigation shows that Dayyabu Mohammed is an arms supplier to two (2) identified and wanted bandits, Yellow and Budderi, in the North West and North Central parts of the country.
The PPRO mentioned that Mohammed was arrested while ferrying the weapons from Jos, Plateau state in a Golf-3 saloon car to the bandit in their hideouts located in a forest at Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna state.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the Golf-3 saloon car was given to Mohammed as his operational vehicle by one of the wanted bandits, with a promise that the full ownership of the vehicle will revert to him on completion of five successful arms delivery missions.
Also, Police operatives has arrested the perpetrators of a recent attack on travellers in the Tafa axis of the Kaduna-Abuja highway, where two women and their husbands were abducted by the criminals into the forest.
The operatives went after the suspects and eventually discovered their hideout of the criminals, and successfully rescued the hostages unhurt.
CP Mba said that operatives had equally apprehended a gang of six, Mohammed lawali, Suleiman Ibrahim, Mohammed Rebo, Bashir Audu, Monsoru Abubakar and Abubakar Hamidu, in connection with the attack on a Mosque in Mazakuka area in Mashegu LGA in Niger State where 18 people were reportedly killed and more than 30 abducted.
Upon investigations, It was revealed that the gang leader Mohammed Lawali and some of the gang members are escapees from Lokoja correctional centre. Bashir Audu was arrested for his criminal role of supplying hard drugs to the gang.
Mba mentioned that two AK-47 rifles, three fully-loaded magazines and various parcels of hard drugs were recovered from them.
Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba commended the team for their successful operations, assuring the nation that the Force would continue to close-up on these criminal elements who pose threats to our national security.
The IGP calls on members of the public who are victims of car theft to visit the STS office at Guzape, Abuja with proof of ownership to claim the vehicles bearing in mind that the colour, interior and vehicle number plate might have been tampered with.
CP Mba added that all suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.
Source: www.clintonsdaily.com
Post a Comment