By Correspondent in Minna.
The Police in Niger state say they have arrested a 50-year-old Umar Samaila suspect of Gussasu village, Maikunkele, Bosso Local Government Area of the state, serving as ‘spiritual adviser’ to notorious inter-state kidnappers operating between Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
DSP Wasiu A Abiodun,the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO for the Police Command in the state disclosed this in a statement in Minna on Monday.
He said the arrest of the suspect was made possible by the efforts of the police operatives attached to Intelligent unit of the command while acting on a technical intelligence, adding that the operatives also foiled plans to kidnap some worshipers in a Church at Buku village, Abaji Area Council of FCT, Abuja.
According to the Command’s image maker, during interrogation, the suspect confessed of being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating around north-central states of; Niger, FCT Abuja and Nasarawa state.
He said:”During the last conversation between Umar and his gang members at about 0720 hours, the suspect disclosed that he gave the go ahead to Kidnappers to carryout the operations, assuring them of successful expedition.
“The suspect promised the gang members that he would also pray for the release of a suspected bandit, known as ‘JULLI’, currently in police custody at the FCT, Abuja command.
“Also on the 16th of November, 2021, at about 1700 hours, information received from a credible source revealed that some suspected kidnappers/cattle rustlers were sighted at Maijaki forest around the Lapai and Rafindaji forest, a boundary between Niger and the FCT Abuja.
“On receipt of this information, a joint Police/vigilante, attached to Lapai Division Police, were mobilized to the forest and the following suspects; Abubakar Alhaji Buba, 27 years of Babana village, Borgu Local Government Area and 44 years old Abubarkar Garba were arrested.
“Also arrested for the same alleged offence are; Shehu Mallam Jare, age 20 years of Rafindaji village in Lapai Local Government Area and Abubakar Na’Allah, age 25 years of Maijaki village, Lapai and recovered 40 cows and 15 sheep in their possession.
“On interrogations, the suspects l,who had claimed to be cattle rearers in the said forest, could not give satisfactory account of the cattle in their possession.
“While the suspected spiritual adviser will be transferred to the FCT command, Abuja, that of the suspected cattle rustlers is being investigated and the suspects will to be arraigned in court for prosecution on the conclusion of investigation.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
