Police arrest 13 kidnap suspects, say 2 confess to receiving N9m ransom
The Katsina State Police command says it has arrested thirteen bandits two of whom have confessed to kidnapping and collecting ransom totaling nine million Naira.
The Police public relations officer in Katsina State, SP Gambo Isah disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspects had confessed to committing the various acts of criminality, including the kidnapping of four children in which the sum of two N2 million ransom was paid.
He said: “The Katsina State Police Command has succeeded in arresting a 30-year-old suspect, alias ‘DAN OGA’ of Sabaru village, Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State, a suspected notorious armed bandit.
“During investigation, the suspect confessed to being under the control of one Chairman, a notorious bandit hibernating in Zamfara forest.
“And he has confessed to have participated in an attack on Unguwar Dodo village, of Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State where shops were broken and food items and other goods were stolen.
“The suspect also mentioned his Ward Head and other persons among his accomplices.”
The PPRO also revealed that the police also arrested a notorious kidnapper and informant to bandits, 35-year-old of Unguwar Tambaya village, Dutsinma LGA.
He said that the suspect had confessed to have conspired with others and attacked the residence of the Deputy Provost, Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma, on Sept 7, 2021, and kidnapped his three children.
“He confessed to have participated in the kidnapping of the Managing Director, Sokoto Rima River Basin Authority in which a ransom of seven million naira N7 million was collected as ransom.
“The suspect was arrested some time ago in connection with a case of armed robbery and cattle rustling for which he is standing trial at the High Court and was granted bail.
“On Sept 23, 2021, the command also succeeded in arresting a 19-year-old boy, alias ‘Duru’, of Garin-Inu village, Batsari LGA of the state.
“The suspect confessed to have participated in the attacks on Bugaje, Rayi and other villages in Batsari and Jibia LGAs where an unspecified number of animals were rustled and people were kidnapped.
“Again, another 35-years-old suspect of Walala village, Kusada LGA, a notorious kidnapper was arrested by men of the Katsina State Police force.
“The fact of the case was that, sometime in the month of August 2021, bandits attacked Unguwar Fari village, Musawa LGA, where they robbed and kidnapped two brothers.
“Subsequently, investigation led to the arrest of one suspect where sets of clothes and dozens of kitchen soaps belongings to the victims were recovered from his possession.
“The suspect confessed to have conspired with someone from the same address and others, now at large, to commit the offense. Effort is on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects,” the police spokesman said.
He said that other suspects were arrested for committing various offenses, include arms smuggling, rustling, robbery and aiding bandits.
