The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested Ibrahim Abdullahi, a.k.a Mande, the suspected mastermind of the March 28, 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
The suspect is also said to be behind other terrorist attacks including the kidnapping and murder of students of Greenfield University and other abductions on the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Force public relations officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Mande was nabbed along with several other suspects.
LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that on 28 March, 2022, terrorists used explosives to derail an Abuja-Kaduna bound AK-9 passenger. The terrorists thereafter opened fire at the passengers, killing some and taking the rest into captivity for months, with victims paying hundreds of millions of naira to buy their freedom.
But parading the train attack suspects at the Kaduna Police command headquarters yesterday, the force spokesman said that Mande was arrested at the Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction in Chikun local government area, following credible information.
He said the suspect had confessed to being a leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and ranked among notorious bandits like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.
According to ACP Adejobi, also on April 27, 2024, some vigilantes arrested and brought to the station a suspected kidnapper, one Auwal Ayuba, 27, a resident of Kubacha Town.
“After thorough investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of kidnapping gang led by a notorious kidnapper Abdullahi Ibrahim, a.k.a Mande, who is currently in police custody and had participated in several kidnappings in Kubacha, Jere and Katari axis, where many victims were kidnapped including the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the kidnapping incident in Greenfield University,” the Force PRO stated.
He also revealed that on February 29, 2024, operatives of the Kaduna Command Monitoring Unit conducted a well-coordinated operation at the residence of a suspected kidnapper, Adamu Abdulwahab, in Ganga Uku Village, Mararaban Jos, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect and recovery of crucial exhibits, including one fabricated cartridge revolver rifle, one fabricated pistol, two dane guns, six live cartridges, one discharged GPRG ammunition, seven discharged cartridges, two SIM cards, two TECNO handsets, and one bloodstained cutlass.
He went on: “It was revealed during investigation that 35-year-old Adamu Abdulwahab, in connivance with other suspects who are currently at large, had kidnapped one Samaila Abdullahi, aged 40, of Keke Kingdom, Mararaban Jos, on February 13, 2024, and forcefully taken him to an unknown destination. Efforts are being intensified to locate and rescue the victim.”
The police said their operatives had arrested 280 suspected criminals and rescued 158 kidnapped victims from January to date.
Adejobi said, “I am pleased to highlight the significant achievements in our crime-fighting endeavours, with a particular focus on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway corridor, and communities in Kaduna State, spanning from January to date.
Troops, Police Kill 715 Terrorists, Arrest 280, Rescue 623 hostages
Also yesterday, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops killed 715 terrorists, arrested 146 others and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages in April.
The director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, revealed this yesterday during an update on military operations.
He said troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunition and stolen products worth over N2,572,397,190.00.
He gave a breakdown of recovered weapons as: 495 AK47 rifles, 190 locally fabricated guns, 43 pump action guns, 151 dane guns, 11,549 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6,722 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 511 rounds of 9mm and 941 live cartridges.
Troops Killed 715 Terrorists, Rescue 465 Hostages In April — DHQ
Others include 2,563,335 litres of stolen crude oil, 254,620 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,050 litres of DPK and 8,000 litres of PMS, amongst other items.
The director said troops’ commitment to defeat terrorist groups is non-negotiable as it would work to deny them the ability to terrorise or hurt citizens of this country.
He said troops in the month under review conducted offensive operations ranging from ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations.
2 For Court Martial Over Tudun Biri error bombing
The Defence Headquarters has admitted its operatives made a mistake in the drone strike on Tudun Biri community in Kaduna State which killed dozens of innocent citizens.
It said the officers involved are going to face a military court martial.
The director of Defence Information, Major General Edward Buba, who disclosed this during briefing on Thursday, said investigations had been concluded and the strike considered a mistaken identity by the team.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the drone strike took place on December 3, 2023, killing over 80 civilians and injuring over 50 others.
General Buba did not provide further details but said the two personnel involved will face a military court martial for their actions.
He said, “I want to speak briefly about the incident in Tudun Biri in Kaduna state as investigation has been concluded. The military conducted a painstaking investigation into the accidental drone strike and has initiated disciplinary actions against troops that were indicted.
BREAKING: Military To Court Martial 2 Personnel Over Tudun Biri Drone Strikes
“Accordingly, the affected personnel are to face a court martial for acts of omission or commission with respect to the incident.
“I’m however constrained to speak much about the incident as it would be adjudged as prejudicial being a case before court martial.
FOR MORE 2 For Court Martial Over Tudun Biri error bombing
However, it must be made clear that the incident was a mistake, as the victims of the strike were mistaken for terrorists.”
He expressed hope that there will be no repeat of such an unfortunate incident.
“The military will take extra precautions in the future to ensure that non-combatants are safe,” he said.
