▪︎As 25 criminals meet their waterloo
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested one Friday Domozu, 23 years old and native of Jarkama Village, Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State, who is the leader of the kidnap gang responsible for the abduction and killing of a six-year-old, Farida Yahaya, at the Gabije Area of Kogi State.
The tragic incident according to the Police, happened on 2nd November, 2020.
In Statement, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba said the victim was abducted alongside one Abdulraheem, 14years old, who narrowly escaped from the kidnapper’s den.
Mba added that investigations by the Police team showed that the kidnappers demanded a huge sum as ransom from the family of the little girl before she could be released, but eventually killed her owing to the inability of the family to meet up with their demand.
He said efforts by the Police team to rescue the little girl led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Friday Domozu, who led the Police team to a deep forest at Gabije area of Kogi State where the remains of the little girl were recovered.
Mba said the Police team also exhumed the decomposing body of another victim later found to be that of one 40 years-old Ibrahim Madaki earlier declared missing.
He said the remains of the victims had been deposited for autopsy.
Mba further stated that Friday Domozu also disclosed to the Police team that he was an ex-military trainee who was declared unfit and subsequently withdrawn five months into training on medical grounds.
He said efforts were being intensified to arrest his gang members still at large.
Similarly, the Police team arrested one Halidu Usman ‘m’ of Akwanga, Nasarawa State, who is the gang leader of the group responsible for the killing of an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, ACI Salisu Usman at Gudi area in Akwanga Local Government Area, Nasarawa State on 15th June, 2020.
Mba said the suspects stormed the house of the victim, killed him and his younger sister, Sa’adatu Usman, a final year medical student of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto State.
He said the killers also abducted the wife of the victim, Asmau Salisu and collected ransom from the family before her release.
Mba said the suspect was assisting the police team in the investigations and arrest of other members of the group still at large.
He said police operatives also arrested 4 kidnap/armed robbery gang members responsible for the recent series of kidnapping of some staff members of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and their families.
Mba said the gang members; Abubakar Aliyu a.k.a Maigiwa, ‘m’ 27 years, Aliyu Bello ‘m’ 18 years, Ishaku Kabiru ‘m’ 30 years and Abubakar Yakubu a.k.a Dogo ‘m’ 23 years, were arrested following police investigations and rescue operations for the kidnap victims.
He said the arrest of Abubakar Aliyu also known as Maigiwa led to the arrest of the other three gang members.
Mba said Abubakar Aliyu was a security staff member of ABU, Zaria, who provided information to the gang on the movement and lifestyle of the victims.
He said some of the victims were rescued during the operation and reunited with their families.
Also, in follow-up investigations and information provided by a kidnap victim who identified and raised the alarm on citing one Ibrahim Idris also known as Naira as a member of the gang responsible for his kidnap and collection of ransom before his release, the Police team on 7th January, 2020 arrested the suspect.
The arrest, according to him, led to the arrest of two other gang members; Abubakar Yusuf also known as Ndalati ‘m’ 42 years and Abubakar Ahmodu ‘m’ 20 years.
Mba said investigations showed that Abubakar Ahmodu was responsible for spying on and identifying potential victims of kidnap for the gang and provided intimate details about his father which led to the kidnap and eventual extortion of a ransom of Two Million naira from him (his biological father).
Mba said all the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has reiterated the commitment of the Force to cracking down on perpetrators of violent crimes in the country.
Mba said the IGP expressed his sincere appreciation to the citizens for the useful information they availed the Police with which no doubt had continued to yield positive outcomes as seen in the arrest of the twenty-five suspects.
He pleaded for further cooperation and assured Nigerians that the Force would remain resolute to ensure a safe and more secure country for all.
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