Police nab kidnapper, bandits’ food supplier in Niger

The police in Niger State have arrested Bello Ibrahim, 25, and Umaru Dada, 20, over alleged kidnapping and supply of food and drinks to bandits.

The suspects were arrested separately by the police at Mashegu LGA and Kapako village, in Lapai LGA of the state.

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According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, “On 19/03/2022 at about 0100hrs, information received revealed that suspected kidnappers invaded Tudun-Wada village via Kaboji, Ukachi and Magama villages, Mashegu LGA.

“The suspects were said to have abducted two persons from Ukachi and Magama villages of Mashegu LGA to an unknown hideout.     

“Upon the receipt of this information, police tactical teams attached to Mashegu Division in collaboration with the local vigilante members were mobilized and trailed the hoodlums into the forest, based on credible intelligence on their movement.

“Consequently, the team discovered the temporary hideout of the hoodlums within the forest where they engaged in a gun battle and as a result, one Bello Ibrahim aged 25years of Bafarawa via Isa LGA of Sokoto State was apprehended at the scene in possession of one Lar rifle with 10 rounds of live ammunition and five handsets while other members of the gang escaped into the forest.” 

The two abducted victims, a male and a female were rescued unhurt, he said. 

Abiodun said during interrogation, the arrested suspect, Bello Ibrahim, confessed to belonging to a five-man gang that specialized in kidnapping for ransom and gave names of other members of the gang at large as Jamilu, Mai-glass and Maigari Dan-Alhaji, all of Bafarawa, Sokoto State.

Meanwhile, the PRO said the command has arrested an alleged food and drinks supplier, Dada, after intelligence about his business was received.

The arrested was effected “On 16/03/2022 at about 2300hrs based on credible intelligence that a suspected supplier of food items and drinks to bandits is frequently being sighted at Kapako village, Lapai.” Abiodun said.

He added that police operatives attached to Lapai Division and vigilante members who were mobilized to the village, after hours of monitoring and observation, arrested the suspect with six loaves of bread, four bottles of Fearless drinks, five Maltina drinks, four wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, some quantity of rice and beans, and N70,000 cash.

He said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a food supplier for bandits and that the criminals usually visited his camp at Kapako village to collect the food items. 

Abiodun said the suspect further confessed that it was the fourth time he was supplying them food items and drinks that he was caught.

He said in the process of further investigation, the suspect’s home was searched and a locally fabricated revolver gun was recovered which he claimed to be his. He said he bought the gun at the cost of N65,000 from a gun fabricator in the same village for his personal protection.