The operatives of the Anti – kidnapping unit of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has foiled the kidnap of a clergyman, Ayuba Samuel, at Nuku community in Abaji area council of Abuja.
The FCT Police Commissioner, CP Sunday Babaji, disclosed this to newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.
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He said a notorious kidnapping gang leader, Malam Bala and one Abdullahi Aruwa a.k.a Juli were arrested during a covert operation at Atako forest, a neigboring village in Kuje area council of the FCT.
” The suspects were arrested while perfecting plans toward executing the criminal act on how to abduct the clergyman at Nuku community in Abaji area council of Abuja,” he said
According to him, the suspects equally revealed to the police team on how they have carried out several kidnapping for ransom operations in the territory.
The police Commissioner said two mobile phones with special lines were recovered from Mallam Bala, which he said the suspect used in communicating with other gang members while they perfected their plans.
He also said two Gionee mobile phones which he said the gang also useD in contacting the families of their victims for ransom were also recovered from the second suspect, Abdullahi Aruwa.
CP Babaji, further disclosed that another suspected member of kidnapping syndicate that has been on the command watch list, Awwal Abdullahi, has also been arrested.
He said the suspect was arrested by the police operatives from Dawaki division, saying the suspect revealed how he participated in two kidnap operations carried out by his gang recently.
He said it was during further investigations that led to the arrest of one Isah Yusuf and three other members of the syndicate, even as he said efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang in the two operations.
He said the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation, even as he urged residents of the FCT to remain calm, while he reaffirmed his unflinching commitment to rid the FCT of every form of crimes and criminality and protect the lives and property of residents.
