Police Paraded 37 Suspected Cattle Rustlers, Kidnappers and Others
The Nigeria Police Force paraded thirty seven (37) suspects for allegedly belonging to gangs which carried out kidnappings, armed robbery, cattle rustling and trans-border car snatching.
In a statement by Police spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, Friday, said the suspects were alleged to be responsible for killings and kidnapping at different locations in Kaduna, Minna, Tegina and Birnin Gwari-Funtua axis.
He said the thirty seven suspects belonged to 6 different gangs. The exhibits recovered from them included; Four Pump Action Guns, Three AK47 Rifles, Three single Barrel Guns and Two Dane Guns.
Other items recovered from them are; Sixty Five AK47 Live Ammunition, Seventeen Exotic vehicles, Fifteen Cattle and Eighty Sheep.
Moshood explained that, the Commander of the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) and his personnel under the Operation Absolute Sanity stormed and raided some identified kidnappers den, camps, Blackspot and Criminal hideouts in the forests located in Kaduna, Minna, Tegina, Birnin gwari – Funtua within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
He said they successfully smashed the six gangs and arrested the thirty seven suspects in the act of kidnapping and collection of ransom.
He added that some of their victims (names withheld) were rescued from captivity unhurt and reunited with their families.
He said some of the suspects were also arrested for armed robberies, multiple cars snatching and crossing them to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
He said six suspects were killed during exchange of fire between the Police team and the suspected kidnappers/bandits.
Moshood said all the suspects arrested confessed to the crime and admitted to the various roles they played in the commission of capital offences.
He said,” they will be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation. However, investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.”
He also said, “consequent on the ambush, attack and killings of seven Police personnel on duty at Galadimawa, Abuja on the 2nd July, 2018, the Inspector-General of Police has on the 3rd July, 2018 set-up a team of Specialized Crack Investigation Detectives, Police Scene of Crime Experts and Technical Intelligence Unit of the Force to investigate the ambush attack and killing of seven (Policemen by Armed robbers/Bandits.”
He said, ” Arrests of some suspects in connection to the crime have been made and investigation is in progress in the case.”
Moshood added that the IGP has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and State commands across the country to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR).
He said they are to ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide.
He said, “They are also to make sure that the prevention and detection of crimes are prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminal.”
