Suspected Bandits’ Food Supplier, Ritualist Arrested In Niger

The police in Niger State have arrested a suspected supplier of food to bandits, Ibrahim Ali and a suspected ritualist, Abdulrahman Woru, with human parts.

The police public relations officer (PPRO) in charge of the state command, Wasiu Abiodun disclosed  yesterday that the two suspects were arrested by the police intelligence operatives.

He said following the arrest of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of N2.1million at Lambata, Gurara, further investigation and confessional statement by the suspected kidnappers as well as intelligence received led to the arrest of Ali.

He said Ali, aged 25 years, is from Gwalo village in Paikoro LGA and that the suspect was arrested in his hideout at Gwalo village where he is an informant and food supplier to the arrested bandits.

The PPRO said during interrogation, he confessed to the crime and said that he usually monitors targets for kidnappers.

“He confessed further that he also assisted the hoodlums to purchase foodstuffs such as rice, beans, millet and even alcohol of any kind, with cigarettes,” he stated further.

He said the suspect was arrested with some quantity of raw rice and beans, which he said he wanted to take to the kidnappers’ hideout in Gwalo forest before their arrest.

Similarly, he said based on a tip-off, police operatives attached to New-Bussa Division arrested one Abdulrahman Woru, aged 38 years of Gbesewona village of Benin Republic with human skull.

Abiodun said the suspect resides in Babana area of Borgu LGA of Niger State where he was arrested with a human skull, three pieces of suspected human ribs, two idols and a cash sum of 5000 CFA.

He said during interrogation, the suspect confessed that the human skull recovered belonged to him. He claimed that he migrated from Benin Republic to Nigeria about four years ago for his business, without any immigration document, and that he is a traditional medicine practitioner.

“He further claimed that he recently traveled to Benin Republic and while on his way coming back, before entering Nigeria, he saw a bag on the road, picked and checked, and discovered the skull,” the PPRO explained further.

“He said he tied it on his motorcycle and took it home, because he believed it would be useful for his work, and he did not report it to the police,” he added.