▪︎Say 36 notorious criminal suspects arrested in sustained anti-crime operations
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a criminal syndicate responsible for recent economic sabotage and vandalism of rail tracks in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba, the arrest of the suspects followed deliberate efforts by the Force to contain and clamp down on perpetrators of recent incidents of rail tracks vandalism, carting away of critical locomotive equipment and other related economic crimes in some parts of the country.
Mba said the arrested vandals were among a total of the 36 notorious criminal suspects arrested by the Police recently for offences of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, possession of illegal firearms, cultism, murder, economic sabotage, cybercrime, and car snatching.
He said the arrests were achieved as a result of sustained nationwide tactical, anti-crime operations by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) in the ongoing efforts aimed at stemming criminal activities, particularly violent crimes in the country.
Mba added that 8 AK49 rifles, 3 AK47 rifles, 1 locally made rifle, 346 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, 24 live cartridges, 20 AK47 magazine and cash sum of N1,400,000 were recovered in the operations.
He said 2 Toyota Corolla (Abuja – RBC 653 AE and ABC 906 AG), 1 Toyota Camry, one 307 Peugeot (Abuja – BWR 920 HK), one 406 Peugeot and one Honda civic were also recovered.
He said the suspects involved in the rail track vandalism, were Idris Lawal ‘m’ 42years, Abdullahi Musa ‘m’ 29years and Usman Umar ‘m’ 22 years.
He said they were arrested following a coordinated intelligence-driven special operation on 27th May, 2021, which uncovered a warehouse in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
Mba said a cordon-and-search operation conducted by the Police operatives on the building showed different vandalized rail equipment, stolen rail installation racks, weld-shear, rail puller, other rail accessories and consumables.
He said further investigations by the Police team led to the interception of three heavy-load trucks at Ikom-Ibom junction in Cross Rivers State.
Mba said trhe trucks were fully loaded with vandalized rail items transported from the warehouse.
He said investigation was ongoing to identity the destination, the targeted criminal receivers, end-users and other suspects complicit in the crime.
He said a six-man notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate linked to several violent crimes in Ondo and Ekiti axis of the South-Western part of the country had been arrested.
Mba said the arrest followed the trailing and arrest of one 60-year-old Umar Mohammed who had been on the wanted list of the Police for transporting firearms and ammunition on behalf of notorious criminals who had carried out major operations in the South-West States.
He said further investigations by the Police team led to the arrest of five of his gang members – Umar Abubakar, 22 yrs, Muhammed Bello, 52yrs, Sale Lawali, 25 yrs, Usman Muhammed, 20 yrs and Musa Ibrahim, 53 yrs, all male – that utilized the weapons he provided to carry out a series of kidnapping and armed robbery operations in the country.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has expressed confidence that no stone would be left unturned until all public spaces were reclaimed from criminal elements and a comfortable level of public safety and security achieved in all parts of the country.
He enjoined citizens to continue to support the Police and the security community as they carry out the tasks of returning our country to the path of peace and security.
He said all the suspects would be arraigned on completion of investigations.
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