Ndudi Anyim
Nine suspected kidnappers, fingered in the abduction of Honourable Mohammed Bashir Bape, a Member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, in December, 2020, have been arrested by the police.
Security Watch Africa gathered that Bashir, who represents Nguroje Constituency, was kidnapped in Jalingo, and released days after, with heavy ransom reportedly paid.
Briefing journalists on the recent achievements of Operation PUFF ADDER II, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, said the suspects were arrested by operatives from the FIB Intelligence Response Team and Special Tactical Squad attached to the Operation PUFF ADDER II.
Mba disclosed that the suspects were apprehended at their various hideouts in Taraba and Plateau States following an intense search by the Police team for the perpetrators of the crime and follow-up on recent spike in Kidnapping and armed robbery in Taraba and the North-Central States of the Country.
He gave the identities of the suspects as: “ Yusuf Abubakar, 31, a native of Jalingo Local Government Area, Taraba state; Muntari Umar, 27, a native of Mayo Belwa Local Government Area, Adamawa State; Ahmadu Dahiru, 28, a native of Lau Local Governement Area, Taraba State; Ali Alhaji Wurungo, 25, a native of Lau Local Government Area, Taraba State; Buhari Nuhu, 25, a native of Jalingo Local Government Area, Traba State;
“ Others are Mohd Garba, 30, a native of Mararaban Gasol, Taraba State; Yusuf Jibrillah 23, a native of Mararaban Gasol, Taraba State; , Adamu Ahmadu, 32, a native of Taraba State and one Idi Suleiman.”
He added that: “ Investigations by the Police team revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate that specializes in terrorizing innocent citizens in the North-Central/North East States particularly in Plateau and Taraba States.
“ Police investigations have uncovered the roles played by each member of the gang during the kidnap of the Honourable Member. Investigations also established how the proceeds of the crime (ransom) were shared among the suspects.”