• Nab two others for virtual kidnapping, recover one AK49 rifle, 26 AK47 magazines
Operatives of the Intelligence Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested eight notorious high-profile kidnapping suspects indicted in Police investigations for the abduction and eventual murder of Pa Dariye Dafwan, the late father of former Governor of Plateau State, in Horop community, Bokkos Local Government Aare of Plateau State.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba, Pa Dariye was abducted on 17th June, 2020 and shot dead eight days after the criminals collected a ransom of N10,000,000:00 from the family of the deceased.
Mba said the arrest of the suspects followed unrelenting efforts by the Police to ensure perpetrators of the dastardly act were arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
He added that the breakthrough that led to the arrest of the suspects began with the arrest of one Abubakar Mohammed also known as Buba ‘m’ 23yrs, native of Gada Biyu in Daffo district, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Mba said Buba was one of the principal suspects in the kidnap operation.
He said the confession of the suspect showed how they abducted and murdered the nonagenarian, assisted the Police team in apprehending seven other members of the gang which included Ya’u Saidu aka Ya’u Kaban m’ 40yrs, from Kaban Village, Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, Titus Ezekiel 34yrs from from Horop, Bokkos LGA, Dauda Isah ‘m’ 30yrs, from Horop, Sunday Ibrahim m’ 35yrs, Mushere tribe from Horop, Mangut Shumwar ‘m’ 30yrs, from Horop, Henry Amos ‘m’ 35yrs native of Horop, and Jethro Ngusen ‘m’ 57yrs, native of Horop.
Mba said further investigations showed that it was Jethro Ngusen, the mastermind and convener of the gang, that instructed one of the gang members, Mangut Shumwar to kill Pa Dariye, because he feared that Pa Dariye might recognize the suspects since a majority of them were from the same village with the deceased.
Mba said Jethro was also identified as the one who took custody of the ransom and later shared the proceeds of the crime among the gang members.
Meanwhile, the Police team also arrested one Sadiq Abubakar ‘m’ 31yrs old from Kogi State and one Peter Moses ‘m’ 25yrs old from Kaduna State who abducted a 22yr-old lady to a location in Suleja.
Mba said the suspects held the young lady hostage, had repeated carnal knowledge of the victim and extorted money from her parents as ransom before her release.
He said investigations by the Police team showed that the suspects, who are serial virtual kidnappers, “usually meet their victims on social media platforms particularly, Facebook, and thereafter lure them to their criminal hideout before subjecting them to sexual molestation and further obtaining ransom from their families.”
He said the Police operatives also intercepted three suspects, Emmanuel Joel 42yrs, Ayuba Joel, 30yrs, Hassan Umar, 30yrs on 28th August, 2021, in possession of one AK49 rifle loaded with fourteen live ammunition and 26 AK47 magazines, at a border town between Nasarawa and Taraba States.
Mba said investigations by the Police team showed that the suspects were criminal arms dealers “who supply weapons to criminal elements in Nasarawa and Taraba States.”
He said efforts were being intensified to arrest members of the gang currently at large.
Mba said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba assured the public that the Force was committed to working with law-abiding citizens to secure the nation and reduce crimes to the barest minimum in the country.
The IGP also advised users of the social media to remain circumspect and protect themselves from cyber crooks masquerading as online friends.
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