Niger Police Arrest 2 Notorious Kidnappers, Rescue 7 Victims, Recover N2.1m Ransom

The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected notorious kidnappers in Gurara local government area of the State on Friday.

The Command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP W. A. Abiodun, on Saturday, said that earlier on Friday, 27/01/2023 at about 1030hrs, based on intelligence received that two male adults were sighted lurking around Lambata-Bonu Road in Gurara LGA, the DPO of Lambata Division mobilised a Police Tactical Team with local vigilante members to the area and arrested the two suspects namely; Isyaku Anaruwa Abdullahi, 18, of Kwakuti village via Kafin-Koro, Paikoro LGA of the State, and Muhammadu Sani Yakubu of Paiko-Kore village via Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT Abuja.

“During interrogation, the duo confessed to being among the kidnapping syndicates terrorizing Gwagwalada FCT Abuja, Lambata and Kafin-Koro areas respectively.

“Three handsets were recovered from the suspects and a sum of two million, one hundred thousand naira collected as ransom negotiated to release two victims earlier abducted at Gwagwalada.

“They confessed further that kidnap victims were kept at Gwalo forest. The DPO further mobilised and combed the Gwalo forest in between Lambata and Kafin-Koro areas.

“In the process, the tactical teams had a gun battle with the abductors in the forest, while the hoodlums escaped from the hideout and abandoned seven victims; six males and one female at the scene.

“The victims were rescued unhurt, taken to FMC for medical attention and reunited with their families,” the PPRO said.

He added that the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ogundele J. Ayodeji, has reassured members of the public and Nigerlites that the Command will continue to live up to its statutory responsibilities of ensuring a secured environment, with the cooperation of people and provision of adequate information to the Police.