Police Arrest Head Of Kidnappers, 6 Others In Lagos, Abia, Kaduna
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday said it has smashed the vicious kidnap for ransom gang that have been involved in high profile kidnapping, terrorizing Kaduna and neighbouring states in Lagos, Abia and Kaduna states.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists said the gang is responsible for the kidnap of several important personalities in the country in recent past.
He said those arrested for their alleged involvement in kidnapping activities include , Dominic Nwakpa aka Alhaji – gang leader; Ifeanyi Chukwu, male and second in command of the gang; Balat Paul, male 30 years ,Driver of the gang’s principal suspect; Ibrahim Samuel also known as IB, male 27 years; Jatau Peter male 29 years, a dismissed Police man; Afini Paul, a female younger sister to the driver of the gang and also owner of the house where kidnapped victims are kept and Clinton Abere who is the principal suspect.
The Police Spokesman added that exhibits found with them include two English made Pump Action Guns; one hundred and thirty one rounds of AK 47 ammunition; Police Camouflage uniform and two Military face caps; two operational vehicles; one hand set phone – used for negotiation and collection of ransom; a red face mask; anti car tracking device and one black criminal charm jacket.
Awunah said,” The gang was smashed with the arrest of Dominic Nwankpa , also known as Alhaji who is the gang leader, in Lagos state, while four other principal suspects and members of the gang, namely Balat Paul, driver of the gang, Ibrahim Samuel aka “IB” and Jatau Peter – a dismissed Policeman were arrested on the 1st January, 2017 in their hideouts at Dan Hassan Road Ungwa Boro Kaduna, while Afini Paul, a female member who cooks for the gang and the victims, rented the house at Yusuf Patrick close, Mararaba Rido, Kaduna where victims are kept before ransom money is collected, was arrested at their hideout in Kaduna.
“Ifeanyi Chukwu the 2nd in command of the gang was arrested in a Hotel in Agbor Hill, area of Abia State. He confessed to be the second-in-command of the gang that kidnapped the Ambassador and so many other kidnappings within and outside Kaduna, Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Delta States.
“The suspects upon interrogation volunteered confessional statements admitting that they are the criminal gang that kidnapped the former Minister of State for foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse on 20th November, 2016 in GRA, Kaduna and collected ransom before he was released. The same gang confessed to the kidnap of Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa and his wife in their residence at different intervals in Kaduna.
“Ransom was also collected by the gang from the family of the victims before they were released. A Member of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Ibrahim Samaila was also kidnapped by the gang on 26/8/2016 at Abakpa area of Kaduna State and an undisclosed ransom money was collected by the gang before his release.”
According to him, the seven suspects are undergoing interrogation, confessed and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes, adding that they will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.