The Department of State Services (DSS) says its sustained tactical and counter-terrorism operations have yielded major successes with the arrest of terrorists and other criminals across the country.

A press statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the service, signed by Tony Opuiyo, indicated that on the 22nd of August, 2016, one Samuel Asuquo, a kidnap kingpin was arrested by the Service at Nasarawa Bakoko village in Cross River State.

The statement said Asuquo was the mastermind of the kidnap of three Australian staff of Lafarge Cement Company, for which his gang received ransom of N150 million.

“Similarly,” the DSS said, “on the 30th of August 2016, the trio of Bamaiyi Mustapha (a.k.a Dan Borno), Aminu Isa and Hassan Shehu, members of a notorious kidnap gang operating around the Abuja-Kaduna axis, were arrested at Lafia, Nasarawa State. The gang had earlier kidnapped five Igbo women and collected the sum of N13 million as ransom. They were subsequently arrested by the Service while planning a high profile kidnap in Abuja.

“In another operation carried out same day at Tamburawa village along Kano-Zaria Expressway, Kano State, Alhassan Musa and Ado Yusuf, members of a notorious kidnap/armed robbery syndicate operating from Falgore forest in Doguwa Local Government Area (LGA), Kano State, were also apprehended. “On the 19th of August 2016, two kidnappers operating in Zamfara and its environs were arrested. They are Abdulrasheed Ibrahim and Aliyu Umar. The duo had been terrorising residents of the area along with a kidnap group headed by Buhari General who is still at large.

“Also, on the 26th of August, 2016, two notorious kidnappers, armed robbers and assassins; Moses Achia and Fanen Igbatar, were arrested at Kperlegba Village, Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State. One AK-47 rifle, five fully loaded AK-47 magazines, 150 rounds of live ammunition and one pistol loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them. The syndicate had planned to kidnap a female business tycoon in Makurdi, Benue State.

“On the 3rd of September, 2016, a kidnapping gang under the coordination of one Sunny Isaac (late), which has been terrorising residents in the South-East, was busted by the Service at Aba in Abia State. Prior to their arrest, the gang had masterminded series of kidnap incidents in the state, including the abduction of one Uche Ikonne (f), an American citizen in the state. Other members of the gang arrested by the Service include Nnaoma Amak, Chiedozie Ebere, Bartholomew Michael, Chinweotito Innocent and Celestine Ikarangwan. The following items were recovered on them during the time of arrest: the sum of N400,000, a double-barrel gun with two live ammunitions, a Toyota-Corolla car, a Volkswagen Golf car, and the mobile cell phone of the Ikonne.

The DSS also said it has arrested one Abbas Mohammed at Asokoro, Abuja. The suspect was said to be sending several threat messages to the Ukranian Ambassador to Nigeria. Preliminary investigation revealed that Mohammed was formerly employed by the Embassy as a driver but he began threatening his former employer after losing his job arising from observed gross acts of insubordination from him to his employers.

The statement also indicated that the DSS is intensifying action against high level fraudsters whose unwholesome activities is negatively affecting investors confidence with multiplier risk to genuine businesses nationwide.

“Accordingly, one Izuagie Mohammed was arrested in Benin City, Edo State on the 24th of August 2016, for impersonating the Accountant General of the Federation. Mohammed had already defrauded unsuspecting members of the public posing as the Nigerian AGF on Facebook and promising them facilitation of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) empowerment loan, before he was apprehended by the Service.

“In a further action, on 28th August 2016, Taiye Alade and Ajoke Kolawole were also arrested by the Service at Fabian Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The duo, had cloned the GSM number of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (GMD, NNPC), and were using it to defraud his close associates.

“Also, one Mike Ewugbara, a known child trafficker was arrested at Okigwe, Imo State on the 26th of August, 2016. Three kidnapped children were rescued from his hideout including one Miracle who was abducted in Benue State.

“In response to the regrouping of Boko Haram elements in Kano State, the Service in concert with the military, carried out coordinated operations in the state, which led to the apprehension of two high profile members of the sect, namely; Ibrahim Ustaz Abubakar and Idris Audu (a.k.a Aya). Audu is an IED specialist who was being groomed to penetrate security agencies in the country. AUDU had already perfected plans to seek for recruitment into the next recruitment scheme of the Nigeria Army, before his arrest.”

The DSS assure all law abiding citizens and residents that it will not rest on its oars in its determination to ensure a safe environment for all to carry out their legitimate business. It also called on members of the public to support its effort by providing useful information to security agencies.

Update news