The Police Headquarters has announced the arrest of another set of highway kidnappers on the Abuja – Kaduna Highway.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood in a statement issued on Thursday, recalled that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, had early June made additional deployment of 600 Police personnel of the Special Intervention Forces, comprising Intelligent Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Kidnapping Units, the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Counter Terrorism Units to root out these vicious and notorious kidnap for ransom and armed robbery gangs that were responsible for many kidnappings and armed robberies along Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

“Consequent on the intense operations to curtail the kidnapping and other violent crime, on the 19^th June, 2017, eight principal suspects were paraded after preliminary investigation revealed that they were responsible for several kidnappings, armed robberies and cattle rustlings on Abuja/Kaduna Highway.

“All the suspects confessed to the offence and investigation is being concluded into the various crimes against and they will soon be arraigned in court.”

He also disclosed that in furtherance of these operations, the Police Special Forces led by the Intelligence Response Team on the 8^th and 9^th July, working on available intelligence swooped on kidnappers dens in Gwagwada, Kangimi and Katari villages in Kaduna State and arrested all the above mentioned suspects and recovered from their possession the fire arm and ammunition listed above.

According to the Police Spokesman, they volunteered confessional statement admitting to the various criminal roles they played in the kidnapped for ransom of motorists, travellers and others innocent people along Abuja/Kaduna Highway.

The statement added that, “The Nigeria Police Force in its renewed determination to prevent crimes and criminality throughout the country will not relent in ensuring that crimes that cannot be prevented are promptly detected to serve as effective deterrent to who will be criminal.”

The Police also assured that the operations along Abuja-Kaduna Road will be sustained to ensure adequate safety of life and properties of all Nigerians.

“Similar operations across the Highways and major roads in the country are being pursued with similar vigour and will equally be sustained.”

The Police gave the names of the principal suspects as Ibrahim Gurgu, 45 years Native of Gwagwada village Kaduna, Abdulazeez Idris, 40 years old native of Kankara LGA Katsina State, Shuaibu Ibrahim aka Kadi 29 years old native of Kangimi village Kaduna State, Ibrahim Isiyaku 30 years old native of Gwagwada village Kaduna State, Usman Datti 30 years old native of Gwagwada village Kaduna, Kabiru Musa 27 years Native of Dandume LGA Katsina State, and Haruna Umar, 24 years old native of Dandume LGA Katsina State.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects also include Ak47 Rifle, two locally made pistols, 30 rounds of live Ammunition, one magazine, two military camouflage, three cutlasses and Charms.

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