Police nab 16 suspected kidnappers in Kogi

The police say they have arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, aged 16 to 45 at Ankpa in Kogi State, who specialized in killing innocent people and removing their vital organs. The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who announced the arrest on Friday in Abuja, named the suspects as Yakubu Hamidu (gang leader), Abdullahi Ibrahim, Shaibu Adamu and […]

The police say they have arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, aged 16 to 45 at Ankpa in Kogi State, who specialized in killing innocent people and removing their vital organs.

The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who announced the arrest on Friday in Abuja, named the suspects as Yakubu Hamidu (gang leader), Abdullahi Ibrahim, Shaibu Adamu and Ubile Attah.

The others are Julius Hassan, Shehu Haliru, Abdullahi Tijjani, Sale Adama, Musa Abdullahi, Yakubu Yahaya, Adama Shagari, Isaac Alfa, Baba Isah, Idoko Benjamin, Akwu Audu and Abdullahi Zakari.

The spokesman said one pump action rifle, two locally fabricated single barrel guns and three short axes were recovered from the suspects.

He said one of them, Ubile Attah, masterminded the kidnap and murder of a police inspector, Abdul Alfa on Nov. 28, 2017 and snatched his rifle.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that members of this gang from information and intelligence gathered from public-spirited individuals and other residents, were responsible for the kidnapping, gruesome murder, and ritual killings of innocent people in Kogi State. Travellers passing through Kogi State and strangers coming into town in the area were mostly the victims.

“Yakubu Hamidu (gang leader) a native of Ankpa and the vigilante leader in the community along with his vigilante guards, are the hit-men responsible for the killings of several victims and removing their organs mostly male and female organs including other body parts such as the head, kidney, and other vital body organs and selling them to personalities within and outside the state for rituals,” Moshood said.

He further alleged that Hamidu and his members now in custody confessed to the crime and admitted that they were sponsored and working for Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali (aka Halims) and Shaibu Adamu, aka Aye-Marina.

The spokesman said they have confessed to having handed over the body parts to the duo and collecting money in hundreds of thousands of naira.

He said Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali (aka Halims) who volunteered the statement to the investigators “is now in police custody and is suspected to have used the proceeds of crime to build and own so many properties including big hotels and several filling stations in Kogi State.”

Moshood added that Shaibu Adamu (aka Aye Marina), without a known profession or means of livelihood, was suspected also to have built and own mansions and four filling stations in Ankpa, and another four at Onyangede in Benue State with the proceeds of the crime. (NAN)