The Police again on Thursday paraded another batch of 11 suspected criminals arrested for alleged offences ranging from cattle rustling, kidnapping to armed robbery along the Kaduna-Birin Gwari- Funtua- Kano- Abuja Highways
The Force Public Relations Officer, FPPRO, CSP Jimoh Moshood who paraded the suspects before the newsmen at the Katari Divisional Police Headquarters in Kaduna State said that they were arrested by the Inspector General of Police, IGP special squad codenamed “Operation Total sanity” along the Kaduna-Abuja Highways now extended to other Highways in the Zone.
The FPPRO stated that the suspects were picked up at various locations by the Operatives along the Birnin Gwari- Funtua- Kaduna- Abuja- Kano Highways during the deadly operations.
According to him, “the Exhibits recovered from the suspects include the following,:.Three Ak47 Rifles, Seventy-two round of AK 47 Ammunition, Three locally made Guns, Cutlasses, Charms and Sticks.
He stated that Four victims including three men and one woman were rescued from the suspects without payment of any ransom
According to the FPPRO, “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris extended last month the mandate and Area of Responsibilities of Operations Absolute Sanity to cover Birnin Gwari – Funtua, Birnin Gwari – Kaduna and Kaduna – Kano Highways to respond to the recent occurrence of cases of kidnapping and armed robbery on the mentioned roads.
“The suspects were arrested in the act during an operation that lasted several hours in the identified kidnap dens, camps and hideouts along Birnin Gwari – Funtua, Birnin Gwari – Kaduna and Kaduna – Kano Highways.
“The eleven suspects arrested during interrogation confessed to the crimes and admitted to having carried out several kidnappings/armed robberies attacks on innocent travellers on Birnin Gwari – Funtua and Birnin Gwari -Kaduna and Kaduna – Kano roads in recent times.”
He said that all suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation and appreciated the supports of the members of the public in the successes of the Squad.
The FPPRO renewed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to prevent and detect crimes, most especially violent crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery throughout the country.
During interrogation by new men, the gang leader of the suspects, Hassan ibrahim, 40, who a brand new AK-47 rifle was recovered from him said that he bought it for N500, 000 from one man now at large for cattle rustling.
The IGP’s Special squad had so far arrested 120 suspects Alon the Highways on the Kaduna- Abuja- Kano- axis.