The Nigerian Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Abuja, has confirmed the arrest of seven notorious kidnappers and the recovery of N9 million cash collected as ransom. The police commissioner in FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, while parading the suspects at the command on Wednesday, said the wanted kidnappers were arrested by operatives of the Utako police division led by CSP Victor Godfrey in a coordinated operation at Tudun –Wada Lugbe and Pyakasa area of Trademore. They were identified as Usman Muazu from Kwali, FCT, Aliyu Mohammed, from Pumpomare area of Borno state, Awwal Dahiru, who hails from Gwagwalada area council of the FCT, Rabi Sani, from Safana, Katsina state and Madina Abubakar, from Gulu, Lapai local government area of Niger state.
Others are, Jonah Elimelech from Kauru, Kaduna state, Saminu Idris, from also from Kauru, Kaduna state, and Mariji Iliya from Mangu, Plateau state.
Igweh revealed that the suspects were linked to high-profile kidnapping cases in FCT and its environs, saying all the suspects have confessed to their crimes and are giving useful information to aid the arrest of other gang members.
He said apart from the N9 million ransom payments recovered from the gang operatives also seized knives, cutlasses, bulletproof vests, and charms.
“And we speak, the suspects who have been profiled are in custody undergoing interrogation at respective division, while those found wanting will be charged to court,” he added.
Igweh said 79 suspects were also arrested during raids on various black spots by the police operatives from Trademore, Galadimawa, Maitama, and Gwagwalada in the FCT.
