THE Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, announced that it has arrested the leader of the dreaded Basalube Kidnap Group, Lawal Mohammed, popularly knowns as “Baba ” along with other key members of the group in various locations.
In a statement signed by one Tony Opuiyo for the Service and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, those arrested with the leader of the Group include Mohammed Tukur and Abubakar Ibrahim said to be the Chief surveillance officer of the gang as they reportedly coordinated the gang’s movement across the various States of Rivers, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja preparatory to the execution of their operations.
The arrest, according to the Service n also include one Ali ABUBAKAR, said to be a notorious kidnapper and top-ranking member of the same BASULUBE gang whose arrest was effected while he was perfecting plans to carry out kidnap operations in Obajana, Kogi State.
Other arrested members of the gang are: Abubakareem IDRISA; Bashir Uban Dawaki TSOHO; Sanusi ABUBAKAR; Nuhu MUHAMMAD; and Abubakar ABDUL HAMEED.
According to the Service, three GSM phones, N37, 857 cash and 25 bottles of psychotropic induces were recovered from the suspects.
It further stated that in its determination to decimate the BASALUBE group, the Service on Monday at Dikko area of Niger State, arrested Abubakar DANLANSU, driver and weapon courier of the group.
According to it, “the suspect was arrested en route Edo state from where he was to convey weapons to Obajana, Kogi State for the gang’s planned kidnap operations.
In a related development, it revealed that “on Saturday, March 24th, at the outskirts of Wudil town, Wudil LGA, the Service arrested a suspected Boko Haram element, Sanusi Mohammed BELLO, believed to be carrying out surveillance activities for the extremist group in the area.
According to it, “at the point of his arrest, several handsets, multiple identity cards including those of a Police Constable and neighbourhood vigilante member and the sum of thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five naira (N37,857.00).
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The statement said that all arrests were made in collaboration with sister security agencies, and this development would further sustain its counter operations to degrade and contain the activities of unscrupulous elements, including kidnappers and insurgents in parts of the country.
According to the Service, “the arrests of these suspects hold major significance for law and order and safety of persons.
“It is instructive to note that the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers on the Lokoja-Okene and Abuja-Kaduna corridors have relatively reduced as a result of sustained counter operations of the Service and sister security agencies.
“It is believed that the recent apprehension of Ali ABUBAKAR and other members of the dreaded BASALUBE kidnap gang led by Ibrahim BASALUBE and Abubakar SIDDI as well as the disruption of the group’s network will ostensibly result in the complete elimination of violent and other allied crimes in those regions.
“The successes so far recorded by the Service are geared towards providing a safe and peaceful environment for law abiding citizens to pursue their legitimate endeavours.
“We wish to reassure the public that the tempo of these operations will be continually reviewed, strengthened and sustained.
“The Service, therefore, wishes to reiterate its stance that all perpetrators of violence and criminality against the Nigerian State and its law-abiding citizens will be made to face the full course of law no matter how long it takes.”