Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested five suspects including a spiritual consultant to notorious bandits and kidnappers, simply known as Umar Samaila terrorizing the Maikunkrle area of Minna, in Bosso local government.
The other four suspected kidnappers are Abubakar Buba of Babana village, Borgu LGA, 27yrs, Shehu Mallam Jare of Rafindaji village via Lapai, age 20yrs, Abubakar Garba, 44yrs and Abubakar Na’Allah, 25yrs both of Maijaki village via Lapai.
The state police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement in Minna said Samaila was arrested based on a technical intelligence of a plan to kidnap some worshipers yesterday in a Church at Buku village, Abaji area council of FCT Abuja.
Abiodun explained that Umar Samaila aged 50yrs of Gussasu village via Maikunkele, Bosso LGA was nabbed by the police in connection to the purported crime in a Church at Buku village, Abaji area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating in Niger, FCT Abuja and Nasarawa States.
“During his last conversation with his gang on the same date at about 0720hrs, he directed them to go-ahead for the operation and assured them of success,” Abiodun revealed.
He said the suspect also promised to pray for the release of a suspected bandit known as ‘JULLI’ currently in Police custody at Abuja, adding that the suspect will be transferred to FCT Command, Abuja for further investigation.
Similarly, the state PRO further disclosed that four suspected kidnappers/cattle rustlers were nabbed by the Command when they were sighted at Maijaki forest via Lapai and Rafindaji forest, the boundary between Niger and FCT Abuja, following information received from a credible source.
”On receipt of this information, a joint Police/vigilante attached to Lapai Division were mobilized to the forests, the Police PRO said.
Items recovered include forty (40) cows and fifteen (15) sheep in their possession.
He added that ” during interrogation, the suspects claimed to be rearing cattle in the said forests but could not give a satisfactory account of the cattle in their possession. The case is under investigation while the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after the investigation is concluded”. he assured.