The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team, Taraba State Police Command, has arrested 11 kidnap suspects.
The gang members were said to have killed a police sergeant, Ogidi Habu, in Jalingo, and also abducted a customs officer and a relative of the Emir of Jalingo.
The suspects are Luka Adam, Shuaibu Nuhu, Moses Amos, Peters Mashi, Ahmadu Mallam, Adamu Mohammed, Dahiru Dalha, Gambo Isah, Sanusi Ahmadu, Mallam Mauludu and Ibrahim Idi, all indigenes of Taraba State.
Seven AK-47 rifles, two Beretta pistols, 121 rounds of live ammunition of different caliber, four magazines, masks, illicit drugs and other incriminating items were reportedly recovered during the raid on their hideouts.
The Force spokesman, Frank Mba, confirmed the incident on Sunday in a statement, titled, ‘Police tackle new trend of kidnapping in Taraba community, arrest 11 notorious kidnappers, recover seven AK-47 rifles, live ammunition.’
He said police investigations revealed that the suspects, who had been on the wanted list of the Taraba Police Command, were members of a notorious kidnap syndicate.
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According to him, they were linked to the recent upsurge in kidnappings in the state, including the attacks on security personnel.
He said police investigations revealed how Isah and Ahmadu masterminded the killing of the sergeant and left an inspector with gunshot injuries after abducting some victims in Jalingo.
Investigations further revealed that the modus operandi of the suspects include trailing individuals — business owners, government functionaries, motorists with flashy and exotic cars, etc — to their houses and thereafter planning and executing the kidnap of such persons.
“They also collect huge sums of money as ransom from relatives and friends of their victims before their release. The police, in the course of investigations, equally identified and raided various criminal hideouts where kidnap victims were usually kept.
“While cache of weapons and other incriminating items were recovered from the hideouts, all the kidnap victims held hostage at the various hideouts were carefully and successfully rescued unhurt and reunited with their families. Meanwhile, investigators are intensifying efforts at arresting other suspects currently at large,” the statement added.
The police assured that the suspects would be arraigned at the end of investigation.
