Police arrest suspected kidnapper in Yobe

Yobe State Police Command has announced the arrest of one Usmanu Garba, a 30-year-old member of a notorious criminal gang in the state.

The arrested suspect is to be prosecuted for Criminal Conspiracy, Kidnapping/Abduction, Robbery, and Gang Activities as contained in a statement by the Command PPRO, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim.

He stated, “On July 5, 2024, at about 1300hrs, Detectives from the State Intelligent Department (SID) arrested Usmanu Garba, 30, of Katarko Village, Gujba LGA, while on his way to spend his share of the proceeds of a kidnapping operation.”

He also stated, “The suspect is a member of a gang which specialised in armed robbery, kidnapping, and cattle rustling in Gujba LGA and neighbouring towns.”

The PPRO added, “The gang was responsible for the recent kidnapping incident which occurred in Babaram Muktum, a Fulani settlement in Gujba LGA, where the gang kidnapped a resident and collected a ransom of N1.6 million.”

“They also robbed the victim’s father of his Techno phone before releasing the victim. Other syndicate members are on the run, and the Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend them,” he added.

The suspect further confessed to the crime and is cooperating with detectives as the investigation deepens.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed personnel to intensify efforts to hunt down and arrest criminal elements in their enclaves as the Command recorded significant achievements in the fight.

The Commissioner also urged members of the public to be vigilant and report suspicious movements, activities, and events.

He also advised the public to be discreet with their personal affairs and not to disclose or exhibit earnings in public.

The command assured that no crime would go unpunished if reported stressing that people should always report any suspicious activities to the nearest authorities.