By Augustine Ehikioya
Recording successes against crimes, operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau Special Tactical Squad (FIB-STS) have arrested 31 suspects in connection with major violent crimes including kidnapping, culpable homicide, rape and unlawful possession of firearms.
Some of the suspects arrested were involved in the kidnapping of Greenfield University students in Kaduna.
The FIB-STS operatives went all out for criminals following the directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, ordering them to clampdown on the perpetrators of crimes and criminality, and cut off their supply of arms.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “The FIB-STS equally recovered a total of 61 firearms including 41 AK rifles, 8 Type 06 rifles, 4 Light Assault Rifles (LAR), 4 pump action guns, 2 locally made firearms, 1 G3 rifle, 1 dane gun, 376 rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, and cash sum of two million Naira, from the suspects in the course of investigations.
“Prominent among the cases include a case of kidnapping where the duo of Aminu Lawal (aka Kano), and Murtala Dawu (aka Mugala), both working in synergy with the kidnap kingpin known as Yellow Ashana, confessed to the kidnap and murder of two Police officers and one Vigilante in 2021.
“They equally confessed to the kidnap of students from the Greenfield University in Kaduna State, and the mindless murder of five victims before the payment of ransom, and eventual release of the others.
“Intelligence shows that their area of operations include Dan Hunu, Kekebi, Dan Busha Rido, Maraban Rido, and Kumi Sata, all in Kaduna State.
“FIB-STS operatives caught up with them in March, 2022, after being on their trail upon the mention of their names in connection to the kidnapping of Bethel Baptist School students in 2021.”
The statement added “Similarly, a five-man trans-border syndicate who carries out kidnapping operations in between Adamawa State in Nigeria, and Burha, Fituha, and Kesu in Cameroun were arrested.”
The gang, it said, comprised Abubakar Mohammed aged 28 years old, Shehu Mohammed aged 38 years old, Abdullahi Ali aged 30 years old, Abubakar Ali, aged 18 year old, and Hussaini Sule aged 18 years old, all males from Mubi, Adamawa State.
According to the statement, they target wealthy individuals who possess beautiful houses or cars.
It went on “They confessed to the kidnap and multiple rape of a newly wedded woman at Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno state whom they released upon receipt of a million Naira ransom.
“They were apprehended by operatives of the FIB-STS after collecting a ransom sum of 2 million Naira for one Alhaji Moni of Buladega Village on the 11th of May, 2022.”
In another case, operatives of the FIB-STS was said to have apprehended the duo of Umar Muhammed aged 40 years old from Michika in Adamawa State, and Musa Buba aged 29 years old from Hong in Adamawa State.
The statement said they were famous for their kidnapping activities.
“They were arrested at the market, upon credible intelligence that they would be there to buy food items for their kidnap victims.
“They confessed to many heinous crimes including the killing and beheading of one Alhaji Mai Gome, even after ransom payment had been made,” it stated.
Commending the FIB-STS operatives for the successes recorded, the statement said that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has assured that all criminal elements will be smoked out of their hiding places and would answer to their crimes in due course.
“All the suspects will be arraigned in court on the completion of investigations,” the statement said.