Ex-police officer, 6 others who kidnapped former minister captured

The Nigeria Police on Monday announced the arrest of all members of the 7-man gang including an ex-police officer, who abducted a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bagudu Hirse.

The force disclosed this in a statement by its spokespersons, Don Awunah, explaining that the gang which operates mainly in Kaduna and other neighbouring states, was apprehended through intelligence report and surveillance which led to the arrest of the leader of the gang Dominic Nwakpa on January 1, 2017.

The former Minister was abducted in Kaduna on November 20 2016, when he hosted the nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mamman Daura, who supposedly was the target of the kidnappers.

Hirse, was however freed after six days in captivity of his abductors on November 26, 2016.

Mr. Awunah explained how the police ensured the culprit did not go scot-free, said other members of the 7-man gang which includes a dismissed police officer were subsequently arrested at their various hideouts.

Parading the suspects, police gave their names as Dominic Nwakpa (gang leader), Ifeanyi Chukwu (2nd in command of the gang) and Balat Paul (gang driver).

The rest are Ibrahim Samuel; Jatau Peter, a dismissed police officer; Clinton Abere; and Afini Paul, who is the younger sister to the driver of the gang and also owner of the house where kidnapped victims were kept.

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Part of the statement by Mr. Awunah added, “The same gang confessed to the kidnap of Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa and his wife in their residence at different intervals in Kaduna. Ransom was also collected by the gang from the family of the victims before they were released.

“A Member of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Ibrahim Samaila was also kidnapped by the gang on 26/8/2016 at Abakpa area of Kaduna State and undisclosed ransom money was collected by the gang before his release.

According to the Police Spokesman, one of the suspects, Mr. Abere, was trailed and arrested in a hotel in Lagos after jumping out of the window of his hotel room on sighting police officers. He is said to be receiving treatment at a police hospital from injury he sustained during moves to evade arrest.

Awunah said that the seven suspects have all confessed their roles in the crimes. He assured that they will be arraigned in court at the end of investigations.

 

 

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