FILE: Police combing bush for kidnapped victims

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday said 26 members of suspected kidnap syndicates were arrested during a Joint Counter Kidnapping Operation involving it, the military and other security agencies tagged “Operation Sharan Daji”.

Mr Bala Ciroma, FCT Commissioner of Police, who revealed this at a briefing for journalists in Abuja said the suspects were part of different kidnap syndicates operating along Kuje, Rubochi, Kwali and Abaji axis of the FCT.

The Police Commisioner listed the exhibit recovered from the suspects as four locally fabricated fire arms, one dane gun with 10-round cylinder loader, four cartridges and three cutlasses.

The commissioner said that three face masks, 24 wraps of dry leaves suspected to be marijuana, several identity cards and charms were also recovered from the suspects.

He said that the Police Operatives attached to Gwagwalada Area Command on Oct. 28 arrested one Juri Abubakar, 30, a member of a kidnap syndicate at Yangoji area of the FCT following a tip off.

Ciroma said that the suspect had admitted to supplying food to other members of the syndicate who had threatened to kidnap a victim but was foiled by prompt intervention of the police.

He said that the suspect was arrested before the execution of the act, adding that efforts were being made to arrest five other members of the syndicate.

The commissioner said five suspects, Zaharadeen Abubakar, 23, Hamza Garba, 25, Usman Ibrahim, 25, Jubril Yusuf, 24 and Ismail Omadivi were on Nov. 2 arrested by police operatives attached to Abaji Division.

He said that Omadivi, a student of the University of Abuja and others were arrested for conniving and threatening to kidnap their targeted victim who reported to the police.

Ciroma said that the suspects had demanded for N500,000 from their target before they were apprehended by the operatives, adding that three cutlasses, one Samsung phone, one smart card and one knife were recovered from the suspects.

He said that operatives on the Joint Counter Kidnapping Operation along Kuje-Abaji axis on Oct. 31 arrested one Mohammed Maina, 20, a member of a suspected rape syndicate.

The commissioner said that the suspect had confessed to intercepting their unsuspecting victims and forcefully had carnal knowledge of them at night.

He said that efforts were being made to arrest other members of the syndicate who were still at large.

Ciroma added that other suspects were arrested over rape, and other criminal activities in the territory.

According to him, police operatives attached to Mabushi Division on Nov. 4 arrested one Demi Ejegi, 65, caught in the act of defiling a 3-year old child.

He said that the suspect had told police during investigation that they were sharing meal together when the urge to defile the child came over him.

The Commissioner said that operatives attached to Anti-One Chance Unit in the command on Oct. 31 arrested one Ezenwodo Orioha, 65 at his hideout in Karimo Village for aiding one chance robbery.

He said that the suspect told the operative during investigation that he was a native doctor who prepares charms for the syndicates before setting out for operations.

Ciroma said that all the suspects would be arraigned in court on conclusion of investigations.