Plateau Police Command Parades 17 Suspects for Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Recovers Firearm

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Plateau State Police Command on Thursday paraded 17 suspects on allegations of committing various crimes including unlawful possession of firearms, kidnapping, armed robbery, and culpable homicide among others.

According to the Police, different kinds of exhibits were recovered from the suspects which included arms and ammunition and assorted charms.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Isaac Akinmoyede while addressing journalists in his office at the Command’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital noted that the suspects have confessed to committing the crimes and have been charged to the court. He said that some of them have been remanded in prison custody while others would be charged to the court when the investigations are complete.

Akinmoyede said, “In pursuance of the objectives of Operation ‘Puff Adder’, the command was able to arrest 17 suspects involved in different heinous crimes.

“On 26th September 2019, at about l6:00 hours, SARS operatives of the command arrested a five-man gang who specialized in snatching cars and robbing a Point of Sale (POS) operators in Jos and its environs.

“Search conducted at their residences led to the recovery of two foreign-made pistols, and one locally-made revolver pistol, eleven 9mm live ammunition, one Peugeot 406 car with registration No. DKA 944 BG.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that in September 2019. they robbed a POS operator at Kufang Miango road, Jos and in the process, they shot their Victim.

Akinmoyede said the suspects have also confessed to robbing and killing one POS Operator at Dadin-Kowa and that they also shot one woman in her POS shop in Zarmaganda.

While speaking on unlawful possession of firearms, the Police Chief said, “On 06th October 2019, at about 19:10 hours while the operatives of ‘A’ Division were on stop and search at the Apollo Crescent in Jos, they stopped a tricycle with Reg. No. JJN 771 WT, PT No. 18374 for a random search, immediately the tricycle stopped, its occupants took to their heels.

“The police operatives then chased them and were able to arrest one of the occupants – one Jonathan Hosea of Kampala, Off Rukuba Road, Jos. When he and the tricycle were searched, the following exhibits were recovered; a locally made single barrel pistol, a cartridge and seven different types of handsets.

He noted that efforts have been intensified to arrest other occupants of the tricycle who are at large to face the full wrath of the law.

In the case of a notorious kidnapper and armed robber, he said, “On 17th August 2019, at about 00:21 hours, one Ibrahim Ali Kuru of Lare village, Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State together with seven others broke into the house of one Laben Fidelis Danladi of Ungwan-Rina village in Shendam LGA of Plateau State.

“They kidnapped Danladi to an unknown destination and demanded a ransom of N2, 000,000 only. A ransom of one million, two hundred thousand naira was paid before the kidnappers released the victim on 20th August 2019.

“Intelligence received led to the arrest of Abraham Ali Kuru whom the victim identified as the leader of the gang that kidnapped him. The investigation has been completed and the suspect shall be charged to court soon.

The Police Commissioner also said, the Command has recovered firearms and ammunition in Wase LGA and other persons were arrested for crimes ranging from armed robbery, culpable homicide in Bassa, Jos South, and Jos North LGAs.

Among recovered Exhibits from the suspects were one Peugeot 406 Car with registration number DKA 944 BG, two tricycles with registration number JJN 771 WT, PT No 18374 and BSA 792 QC, PT No 10339. Others were two foreign-made pistols, one locally-made revolver pistol, eleven 9mm live ammunition, locally made single barrel pistol, a cartridge, one AK 47 riffle with breach No 01968, one locally-made revolver pistol, two 9mm live ammunition, and two ATM cards.

The Police Commissioner assured exhibitors and visitors at the ongoing 2019 Trade Fair of maximum security.

He called on all peace-loving residents of the state not to relent in giving information to the police to enable them to fish out criminals among the populace. He, however, appealed to media organisations to endeavour to crosscheck facts before publishing any news so as to feed members of the public with the truth while appreciation them for risking their lives daily in order to report the Command’s activities.