Police arrest 4 kidnappers in Niger State

The Niger State police command has apprehended four suspected kidnappers and recovered N230, 000.

Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division arrested three suspects; Danjuma Mohammed (22), Mohammed Yasin (20) and Mohammed Usman (25), all of Barkin Saleh, Minna for conspiracy and kidnapping.

The fourth suspect, Victor Francis age (23) of Dikko area of Gurara LGA, was arrested by the Police operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division.

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The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun said an incident of suspected kidnapping was reported at Tudun-Wada Division that a 9-year-old boy was suspected to have been abducted by unknown people from school premises along Shiroro road, Minna at about 0745hrs.

He said the parents were contacted to pay a ransom of N500,000 by an unknown caller, but the boy was later found around Lamgbeji area of Barkin-Saleh at about 1900hrs after he escaped from the abductor while the case was under investigation.

He further explained that in June that another incident of kidnapping of a 9-year-old boy from David Mark road, Minna by unknown person(s) was also reported at the same division and the parents were equally contacted for a ransom of N45million.

The parents were made to pay a sum of N300,000 as agreed ransom through an account number sent to them before the victim was released on 13/06/2021.

“During the painstaking investigation, the Police operatives swung into action and arrested Danjuma Mohammed at Barkin-Saleh who also led the Police to the principal suspects; Mohammed Yasin and Mohammed Usman.

“Mohammed Yasin, during interrogation, confessed to the crime and narrated that he perpetrated the act with Mohammed Usman and one Almajiri who is presently at large.

“The Almajiri was used to open a bank account with fake details where the ransom was paid and Danjuma acted as informant.

“The following exhibits were recovered from the suspects, while effort to arrest the other accomplice is ongoing; A sum of N230,000, 2 ATM cards, 1 MTN sim card, 2 identity cards, 2 AEDC utility bill, 8 passport photographs, 2 postcard photographs, 1 Military camouflage face cap, 1 Tecno handset, 2 cutlass covers, 1 axe, 1 sow, 1 sword, 4 knives, 1 iron rod, 3 calabashes and assorted charms,” he said.

One for attempted kidnapping

In a related development, the Police operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division arrested one Victor Francis age (23) of Dikko area of Gurara LGA for threat to life and attempted kidnapping.

The PPRO said complaint of threat to life and attempted kidnapping was reported at Gawu-Babangida Division on 23/06/2021 that a female victim of the same address received an anonymous call from a suspected kidnapper who threatened to kidnap and slaughter her, if she fails to raise an amount of N50,000 as ransom which the victim later paid through an account number sent to her.

“In a similar incident, on 04/06/2021 another female victim received call from an unknown caller and threatened to kidnap her husband.

“The caller threatened further to kidnap the husband to Kabo forest in Dikko area of Gurara LGA.

“The Police operatives swung into action and commenced a thorough investigation into the incident which led to the arrest of the said Victor Francis at Nepa area of Dikko.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have been the unknown caller who threatened the two victims and he intended to request for a sum 0f N500,000 from the second victim,” he said.

He added that further investigation revealed that the suspect is a relation to the second victim and he also lived with the family of the first victim through which he gained access to information about both victims.