7 suspected kidnappers, rapists arrested by police in Gombe

The Gombe State Police Command said its personnel have arrested three suspected kidnappers and four teenagers over alleged rape of minors.

This was disclosed in Gombe by the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Maikudi Shehu, who also revealed that the suspects were arrested by the police in collaboration with vigilante groups.

He said seven suspected kidnappers had on January 4, at about 0200 hours, went to the farm of Alhaji Babayo Magaji, 45, of Yelwa village, where they allegedly kidnapped him and took him to a mountain near Kashere town.

CP Shehu added that the victim managed to escape thereafter from his kidnappers while they were sleeping.

He stated that a combined team of policemen and hunters cordoned off the area. “On sighting the policemen, however, there was an exchange of gunfire which led to the death of one of the suspects called Ustaz.”

The police said Yaya Usman of Wurojebe quarters of Yola, Adamawa State, and Alhaji Lamido Tumu, of Akko LGA, Gombe State, were arrested at the scene while the third suspect, Aminu Musa of Song LGA, Adamawa State, who sustained bullet wounds, was arrested while boarding a commercial bus to Adamawa State.

The commissioner said three of the suspects are still on the run, adding that the police will track and arrest them.

He said two motorcycles, an AK47 with plenty of ammunition and two cutlasses were recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, the command said it has arrested Abdulrasheed Abdullahi, 21, of Tudun Wada; Shamaki quarters of Gombe metropolis that allegedly lured a 10-year-old girl of the same quarters and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

Also, three teenage boys, Da’u Balla, 17, Salamu Alhaji Dawi, 17, and Jaoji Maina, 12, all of Wuro village of Nafada LGA of Gombe State, conspired and attacked a 14-year-old girl along bush path and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

CP Shehu added that investigations were ongoing on the respective cases and all the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

He decried the upsurge of kidnapping in southern part of the state, adding that rape had become a trending case in the state. “At least three cases are reported to police daily since the beginning of 2021.”