Six notorious kidnappers arrested in Kaduna

The insecurity along Abuja-Kaduna highway may have abated following the arrest of six suspected kidnappers on that axis.

They were arrested by the Kaduna State internal security outfit, Operation Yaki.

The suspects were reportedly picked up on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th June 2017 by Operation Yaki Surveillance Patrol Teams in a joint operation with the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Teams (IRT) and with the support from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU).

A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to governor El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan said: “The arrest of the kidnappers is sequel to the massive deployment of more police assets and patrol vehicles in the area in the last one week.

“These efforts led to the arrests of the suspects including the leader of the gang, Adamu Mamman, a 35-year old ofAmana village in Igabi Local Government Area, Ali Rabo, also known as Blakky, of Liman Ibada village in Chikun Local Government Area and Awwalu Ahmad, aka Mota, of Rijana village in Kachia Local Government Area who is the main informant of this gang of kidnappers along the Abuja – Kaduna highway.

“Others arrested are Shehu Idris Shagari, a 27-year old of Gadan Gayan village in IgabiLocal Government Area, and Umar Antijo, also a 27-year old, of Rijana village in Kachia Local Government Area. Also in the net is Babangida Abdullahi of Rijanavillage in Kachia Local Government Area who is the receiver of stolen cattle, phones and laptops.”

The statement explained that Yakubu Yusuf, a retired colonel and Coordinator of Operation Yaki, said the security operations against kidnapping were being funded by the Kaduna State government.

He disclosed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai had been encouraging and supporting interagency cooperation in the fight against crime.

It said governor El-Rufai had pressed for a sustained onslaught against kidnapping.

“The Kaduna State Government is assisting security agencies with operational funds to support these efforts. The governor commends the communities that have been contributing to the security effort reporting suspicious activities,” the statement added.

It said the suspects were arrested at various locations, including Maraban Jos, Ungwan Pama, Sabon Gayan and Rijana villages, all in Kaduna State.

“All the suspects arrested confessed to several kidnappings of motorists along Kaduna – Abuja highway and further confessed that because of the massive deployment of security forces to their area of operations, most of their gang members have started relocating from Rijana village to their respective home towns.

“The suspects and the items recovered from them have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police Command for further investigation,” it explained.