‘Powerful people’ mounting pressure for release of ‘kidnappers’ collecting ransom through banks

The police are under pressure to release two suspects arrested in connection with the kidnap of a victim whose ransom was paid through the bank.

Daily Trust had reported how one Mr. Saheed Adewuyi whose wife was abducted paid N500,000 ransom through the bank.

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After the story, the police arrested two suspects, Badawi Abba, owner of the account, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator, who collected the cash from Abba.

Abba, who claimed to be a cosmetics seller at Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Market, Suleja, Niger State, had last week hired a lawyer to defend him.

Daily Trust had reported that the suspects, working with kidnappers who are operating between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State, were nabbed by the police officers attached to Area Command of ‘A’ Division in Suleja.

However, two police officers, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said their superiors, have been receiving calls from powerful people to release the two suspects.

“In fact, I’m tired. Since this story was published by Daily Trust, we have not rested. We are just getting calls left and right to release those two people we suspected to have links with those kidnappers,” one of the officers said.

Another officer said relatives of two suspects are currently lobbying police officers and some top politicians to intercede on their behalf.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has waded into the matter, directing members of his Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to ensure the main criminals are arrested.

After Baba’s order, some suspects were arrested. They are currently being detained at the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja.