The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has arrested Hashiru Marazu Baku, the alleged mastermind of the robbery and killing of retired Brigadier General Uwen Harold in his residence on June 21, 2024.
Commissioner of police FCT, CP Ben Igweh while parading the suspect, said sequel to an earlier achievement of the command where some suspects were arrested on June 23, 2024 in connection with the murder, Police operatives from Utako Division in a covert operation led by CSP Victor Godfrey trailed and apprehended the gang leader, Baku at Chile Hotel in Kano State on the July 17.
He said Harold’s service pistol and some ammunitions, which were carted away were recovered in a follow up operation by the same team of police operatives on July 19, 2024 in Mararaba Nasarawa State at about 02:00am where the suspect lives.
Some other exhibits recovered from the residence of the suspect include; a wrist watch belonging to the wife of the late Brigadier General, other jewelries and 79 bottles of 100ml of codeine.
The commissioner of police further said, “ It is important to note that the same Hashiru Marazu Bako was once arrested in 2022 at Wuse Zone 6 for armed robbery, was prosecuted and sentenced to Kuje correctional facility from where he broke out during the May 22, 2022 Kuje jail break.”
Police operatives, on July 20, also trailed a Golf Vento vehicle with registration No. KWL 368 CP, around Arab Junction Utako – Darki Junction Jabi, suspected to be driven by a gang of armed robbers.
“Upon sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire on the operatives which resulted in a gun duel. The suspects succumbed to the superior fire power and prowess of the police and the following suspects were arrested; Ibrahim Yakubu, Ugwu Monday Joseph and Lawal Mustapha, while one of them escaped with bullet wound injury”, the police boss said.
The following exhibits were recovered from them; two English pistols; two magazines; 49 live ammunitions, three torchlight and several charms.
Meanwhile, acting on credible intelligence, a combined team of police operatives and Civilian Joint Task Force led by the Commander Rapid Response Squad FCT Command raided black spots at Kabusa Panteka where eight male suspects were arrested with one trailer containing used car parts, armored cables, one canter pickup truck, two buses with one containing burnt armored cables, five saloon vehicles comprising of; one camry pencil light, two Honda accord and two corolla cars, 14 inverter batteries and nine used cars.
The police said the suspects could not give satisfactory explanation to the exhibits seen in their possession and that investigations are still ongoing and suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.
