Bauchi police arrest kidnappers, rapists on New Year’s day

The Bauchi State Police Command has foiled the attempted kidnap of a vigilante leader in Gubi village in Bauchi Local Government Area of the State, while arresting the suspect, one Usman Yusuf.

According to a press release made available to Metro by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Haruna Mohammed, the suspect, along with his accomplice who is at large, had planned to kidnap the vigilante leader who had effected their arrest for robbery in January last year.

“After their release from prison custody, the two ex-convicts planned to kidnap and assassinate the man who was instrumental to their arrest in order to teach him a lesson.

However, the police anti-kidnapping unit was able to foil their plan, while arresting Yusuf. Efforts are on to track down the second accomplice,” the statement read.

The police also arrested a 16-year-old Nafiu Adamu, of Miri Village, who allegedly  sent a message to one Jamilu Abubakar, threatening to kidnap him.

The suspect, who was arrested on January 1, confessed to the police that he actually threatened Abubakar.

Found in his possession were a Nokia mobile phone and the SIM card through which he sent the message.

“Also on January 1, following intelligence report, police detectives attached to Ganjuwa Division, in collaboration with a vigilante group in the area, arrested  some suspected kidnappers and rapists from Mada Dutsen Kura hamlet in Yali Ward of Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

“The suspects had on the November 28, 2016, armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks, stormed the residence of one Abubakar Mohammed in the same Ward and had unlawful carnal knowledge of his wife, after which they threatened to kidnap his mother.

“The suspects, however, demanded that Mohammed pay them N150,000 so that they would not kidnap his mother. He was able to raise N35,000, and pleaded that he would pay the balance at a later date.

“The suspects seized his motorcycle receipt as collateral, pending when he would pay the outstanding balance.

“Exhibits recovered from them include two cutlasses and the motorcycle receipts.

“They have, however, voluntarily confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

“The police were also able to rescue a kidnap hostage, Mohammed Jauro, after storming kidnappers’ hideout at Durum forest in Bauchi.

“The victim, Jauro, was kidnapped in Garun Village in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State on December 18, 2016, and brought to the Yuga forest in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where he spent 13 days before he was rescued,” the PPRO stated.

“The victim has been taken to hospital for medical examination and he is responding to treatment, while the suspects would be charged to court soon,” the PPRO said.