Police Parades 44 Kidnapping, Armed Robbery Suspects in Jos

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Nigeria Police, Plateau State Command has paraded forty four suspects for various offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide, possession of illegal weapons and membership of cult groups among others.

The Commissioner of Police of the Command, CP Isaac Akinmoyede on Thursday in his office at the Command headquarters in Jos, Plateau state capital addressed the media and later took time to display exhibits recovered from the suspects including AK47 rifles, magazines loaded with live ammunitions, 22 extra 7.62mm calibre ammunition, face mask, locally made pistols, and military uniforms among others.

Akinmoyede said that the Command has arrested eleven notorious kidnap suspects who carried out the kidnapping of a staff of the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi in February 2019.

“On 05/07/2019 the Command after a painstaking analysis of the intelligence at its disposal carried out a well-coordinated and sweeping raids of the hideouts of some kidnap suspects and that resulted in the arrest of the following:- (1) Bashiru Mohammed (2) Umar Adamu (3) Yusuf Adamu (4) Mustapha Mohammed (5) Shaibu Ado (6) Dantani Umar (7) Samaila Saranu Shitu (8) Adamu Mohammed (9) Hashimu Ya’u (10) Jibiro Damuna and (11) Abubakar Hassan, all males. During interrogation, Bashiru Mohammed and Umar Adamu confessed to have kidnapped a lot of persons and both mentioned Yusuf Adamu, Hashimu Ya’u, Mustapha Mohammed and Shaibu Ado as members of their syndicate responsible for the kidnap at Plateau State Polytechnic Staff Quarters, Haipang on 21/02/2019, Zawan and other places in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. They further confessed that Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas have been their areas of operation. They also informed the Police during interrogation that they have also operated in Jos Metropolis. Similarly, Jibiro Damina and Dantani Umar confessed to being responsible for the kidnappings at Jengre axis of Bassa LGA. Investigation is still ongoing, the suspects will be charged to court soon.”

The Command said it also arrested four suspects in a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in Yelwa-Shendam in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“On 22/06/2019 at about 2200hrs one Awalu Magaji ‘m’ of Yelwa Shendam was on his way from Ibi LGA of Taraba State to Yelwa Shendam in Shendam LGA, he was attacked by Yasir Sa’adu, Haruna Haranu, Ibrahim Isiaka and Yusuf Umar all ‘m’ of Yelwa Shendam who conspired among themselves and beat him with some planks as a result of which, he sustained serious injuries on his head. The victim was rushed to the hospital at Shendam for treatment but later died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Detectives of the Command swung into action and arrested the above named suspects while one of the suspects Imrana surname unknown, a co-conspirator is currently at large. The suspects will be charged to court very soon.” The statement read.

The CP said that the Command has also arrested a five (5) highway armed-robbery suspects who operates around Jos/Jengre Highway robbing commuters and road users along the axis.

“On 2/08/2019, Jengre Division with the assistance of the vigilante, arrested five suspects who specialize in robbing commuters along Jos/Jengre highway. Before now, there were reports of robbery of commuters which made the Command to step up patrol along the road. The suspects arrested on the fateful day are Nasiru Gambo, Abdullatif Abdulganiyu, Shamsu Ishiaku, Abel Maikarfi and Felix Ajayi. They will be arraigned in court after the completion of investigation.”

He noted that another two (2) armed robbery suspects who specialised in robbing shops around Zaramaganda in the Jos metropolis were also arrested.

He said, “On 03/08/2019 the Command arrested three armed robbery suspects whose stock in trade is to rob shops within Zarmaganda Area of Jos South Local Government Area at gunpoint. They are Pam Davou and Andrew Enock all male. When the suspects were searched, a locally-made single barreled pistol with one live cartridge was recovered from them.”

Also paraded by the Police was a Black Axe cult group member who with his fleeing gang members specialises in robbing people around Jenta, Gada Biu, Rukuba Road and Farin Gada dispossessing them of their handsets, laptops, money and other valuable items.

“Arrest of one (1) suspect for Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Belonging to Unlawful Society. On the 02/08/2019 at about 0100hrs detectives of the Command arrested one John Smith ‘m’ of Jenta Adamu with a locally-made pistol and two live ammunitions. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to belonging to a gang of armed robbers who specialized in robbing people around Jenta, Gada Biu, Rukuba Road and Farin Gada dispossessing them of their handsets, laptops, money and other valuable items. He also confessed to being a member of Black Axe Cult Group. He mentioned his cohorts as Gatuso the gang leader, Ugo, Tuksis and Alfa, all male, of Jenta Adamu whose surnames are yet unknown. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the suspects on the run.”

Akinmoyede noted that all the suspects would be charged to the Court very soon. He however appreciated the public for providing useful information to the Police. “I want to thank the good people of Plateau State for their timely information which have helped the Command to nip some crimes in the bud” he said.   

He said that the effort cannot be complete without a “special recognition of members of the press for their prompt, effective and positive reportage of the Command’s activities.”