In what appears to be a major breakthrough in the bid to end highway robbery and kidnap in four states contiguous to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of State Security (DSS) have made arrests of a four-man gang believed to be connected to the highway heists and abductions.

In news release made available to Independent on Wednesday, DSS said that the arrests of the suspect were made in Kogi State in view of the increasing spate of kidnapping in the state.

Giving the name of the suspects as Haruna Saleh (a.k.a Auta), leader of the gang; Kabiru Shuaibu; Abdulmuminu Adamu; and Tukur Shuaibu, the state security agency explained that the suspects were arrested along Abuja-Lokoja highway, Koton-Karfe, Kogi LGA, by the operatives of the Service following liaison report corroborated by signal intelligence linking them to robbery and kidnapping activities within and outside the State.

The gang were said to operate with army camouflage and are part of larger syndicate that operate in Niger, Kaduna Katsina apart from Kogi were they were caught. During an on-the-spot search conducted on the suspects and their vehicle, the following items were recovered: three pairs of Army Camouflage uniforms; one locally made pistol; one locally made long barrel gun; seven pump action cartridges; a cutlass; a knife; fourteen handsets; a set of plate number (AG 556 BNG); three touch lights; one green coloured Gulf3 vehicle with registration number KWL 946 FB; and the sum of N46,675.

The suspects admitted that from the Ramadan to time of arrest, they have conducted six different robbery/kidnap operations alongside with two other gang members. The locations include Minna-Kantogara road, Niger State, Mararaba-Jos road, Kaduna State, twice along Manufarshi road in Zaria, Kaduna State and twice along Jaji-Zaria road.

“They have disclosed their source of military uniforms and we have invited the appropriate service to join us in investigating this angle of the case. Apart from what was recovered from them, they revealed that they have a cache of three AK 47 and other weapons which they are assisting in their recovery,” explained Joseph I. Okpo, Director, DSS, Kogi State Command.

Explaining further the modus operandi of the gang, DSS stated that intelligence gathered on the activities of kidnappers shows that disproportionate percentage of kidnappers in Kogi State come from outside the state.

“They exploit the physical geography and landforms as well as the route structure of the State. Kogi State is bordered by nine States and the FCT and the gateway between the North and South. The terrain is rugged and it has both land and inland waterways as entry routes.” DSS says that the Service has intensified efforts towards curtailing this threat. The command added that within the last six (6) weeks, the Command had arrested about ten suspected kidnappers, most of whom have been charged to Court. (Independent)

•Photo shows the suspects.

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