The Nigerian Police said that among the successes recorded during the period was the thwarting of another kidnapping plot by the technical intelligence agency, which led to the arrest of three Bwari-based kidnappers and the recovery of their weapons.
The Nigerian Police has announced the arrest of three Bwari-based kidnappers and 13 other suspects for various crimes and the recovery of a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
The Police Spokesman, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday paraded the suspects at the police headquarters and recovered their weapons, adding that the arrests follow the recent establishment of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
He said this was an important step towards strengthening the security system situation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Police said SIS worked in collaboration with the Department of Military Intelligence Intelligence Response Team (DFI-IRT), FCT Command Violent Crimes Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and other National commands.
Adejobi names three kidnappers based in Bwari, all men, “Idris Ishaq, Bala Umar, and Dahir Salisu, all 27 years old,” and says they have committed a series of crimes. He said they were responsible for armed robbery and kidnapping cases in the Bwari Local Government Area and some other parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“As well, the joint investigation team arrested 13 suspects in various other crimes.”
He said that among the successes recorded during this period were new kidnapping plots by technical intelligence agencies; He said that this led to the arrest of the three Bwari-based kidnappers and seizure of weapons from them.
Giving insight into the operation, a police spokesperson said: “In an aggressive move, following a report on the kidnapping of a victim from his house alongside his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL Grey color by four armed men disguised in a white Mercedes Benz 230 car, Police Operatives in an intelligence-driven investigation learned that the victim had been taken to Kano State, but was deprived of his ATM cards in Kaduna, while the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) was transferred from his account.”
But the suspects were unlucky. Three of them escaped after being intercepted by police at a gas station in Kaduna, and one victim named Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested. The rescuers were unharmed and the Hilux van was also unharmed.
“It was discovered that Chinaza Phillip Okoye Michael and his accomplices were earlier arrested last year during November 2023 and brought before the law court for the same kind of offenses at the High Court, Kwari, Abuja, but while on court bail they committed more heinous crimes again.
It turned out that they were unrepentant of their crimes.
“In addition, agents from the DFI-IRT office apprehended Everest Magaji, a gun seller, while negotiating the purchase and supply of illegal guns and ammunition with several infamous bandits who are still at large. Eleven (11) pistols and two (2) pump action guns were found from the suspect.
“The successes documented during these unrelenting operations indicate the Nigeria Police Force’s dedication, led by Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun Ph.D., NPM, to ensuring our nation becomes a safe refuge for us to live in. The IGP encourages all residents to be very aware of their surroundings and the individuals in them, and to report any suspicious conduct to the police promptly.”