A kidnap kingpin, Barau Ibrahim aka Rambo, believed to be the leader of a criminal gang terrorizing people in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, is now in police custody.
Police said he is vicious and his name sends cold shivers down the spines of those who have encountered him. It said the dastardly manner in which he and members of his gang carried out their operations was unlike other criminals who shoot into the air to scare away onlookers.
A source said Rambo often schooled his boys never to miss their target but to shoot at them to send frightening messages to others.
Police said he was arrested in a village in Kaduna. Rambo himself explained that his gang was once little-known and was involved in petty stealing but eventually grew to challenge other gangs operating within the same axis.
He said he had been living in the forest for two years after fleeing Kano and entered Abuja as a scavenger. After settling down as a gang leader, he proceeded to recruit others of like mind into his gang.
A police source said Rambo shot a man who gave police information in retaliation for the arrest of two members of his gang. Before his arrest, his gang was considered one of the most powerful criminal groups operating along the Abuja highway.
His activities were recently brought to the notice of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who directed operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to step into the case.
Based on the strength of the directive, Abba Kyari, the head of the IRT, relocated to Kaduna and got wind of the gang’s hideout.
When the team raided his hideout, it recovered two Ak-47 rifles and two magazines with 51 live ammunitions.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh, the Force Public Relations Officer, said Rambo was arrested on May 13, 2018 based on credible intelligence by IRT Operatives attached to Operation Absolute Sanity.
Jimoh described Rambo as one of the most wanted kidnappers/armed robbers and killers.
He said Rambo was arrested within Maraban Yakawada, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Rambo became prominent in the crime world for operating with two AK-47 rifles at once.
Moshood said: “His arrest led to the arrest of another gang member, Shehu Abdullahi aka Gashin Baki, 40.
“Serious efforts are in progress as IRT operatives deployed to Kaduna are on unrelenting follow up against the remaining killers and kidnappers on the run,” he said.
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