The Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team has arrested two men in connection with the abduction of a Catholic priest in Kaduna State.
The two suspects were among the 47 criminal suspects paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mba said the two suspects, Abubakar Usman and Salisu Abdullahi, were arrested following intense intelligence.
Recovered from them were one GPMG and three AK47 rifles.
The police spokesman said efforts were still ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
Mba said, “Similarly, the Police arrested three ex-convicts, Abel Nanfa, ‘m’ 23 yrs, Nankum Wazhi, ‘m’ 32 yrs, and Jonah Patrick, ‘m’ 25 yrs, in Plateau State for their involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping and car theft within the Jos metropolis. Investigations revealed that the suspects, after serving their jail term, returned to their nefarious activities before nemesis caught up with them.
“The suspects were arrested while trading a Toyota corolla vehicle which they snatched at gun point from one of their victims in Jos. One AK47 rifle, one berretta pistol and 21 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
“In another development, the Police Team arrested one Abubakar Haliru, ‘m’, 48 yrs old, of Zaria LGA in Kaduna State, who lured his cousin, one Binta Mohammed and handed her over to his kidnap gang members in Galadimawa Forest in Kaduna State. Binta narrowly escaped from the kidnap gang and thereafter contacted the Police before her eventual rescue.
“Investigations revealed that Haliru and his gang members are in the habit of taking advantage of family ties to deceive and abduct family members.
“A total of 47 suspects were arrested in the various operations, while exhibits recovered include: One GPMG, 22 sophisticated firearms and weapons of different calibre, 525 ammunition, one hacksaw, and mobile phones were recovered from the suspects.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has assured the nation that the Force will remain committed to cracking down on criminal networks, mopping-up illicit weapons in the hands of criminal elements and generally working toward enhancing public safety in the country.
“The IGP also urged citizens to continue to provide useful information to the police to aid in the crime fighting efforts.
“All the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.”
