Police re-arrest fleeing suspects who indicted Melaye, Audu for alleged gun running

THE Police High Command on Tuesday said that the six suspects including two who indicted Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu for alleged gun running who escaped from the lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force ‎in Kogi State last week have been re-arrested.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, ACP Jimoh Moshood,‎the suspects were re-arrested by the special Team deployed to the State by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris.

The Special Team comprised IGP’s Intelligence Response Team and Special Tactical Squad, Personnel of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department who were directed to move to Kogi State and carry out a discreet investigation into the escape and re-arrest the escaped suspects.

‎The suspects reportedly escaped on March ‎28 when they were to appear before a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja and the case was adjourned to 10th of May 2018 for the Police to produce all the suspects in court.

According to the FPRO, “as a result of intense raids, cordon and search operations carried out by the Police Team in some identified criminal hideouts and black spots in some locations in Kogi State and other States of the Country and working on active intelligence gathered on the where about of the fleeing suspects were subsequently arrested.

“‎The suspects were arrested as follows: KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” From Dekina LGA but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) rearrested in Tafa Balewa Local Government Area in Bauchi State.

“NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL “25 YRS” (a member of the gang) rearrested in Ganaja Village, Lokoja.”

The statement further Said that the listed suspects who played various criminal roles in the escape of the six suspects and their suspected criminal accomplices were also arrested and would be prosecuted along with the principal suspects in court.

i. Musa Mohammed a.k.a Iko ‘M’ 27Yrs – one of the escapees rearrested who was earlier arrested for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

ii. Emmanuel Audu ‘M’ 26Yrs – one of the escapees also rearrested who was earlier arrested for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

iii. John Beneche ‘M’ 22Yrs – Carried four (4) of the escaped suspects; Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, Nuhu salisu a.k.a Small, Musa Mohammed a.k.a Iko and Emmanuel Audu after their escape to their criminal hideout at Ganaja Village, Lokoja.

iv. Seye Atowoju ‘M’ 27Yrs – During Police trail on the fleeing suspects, Seye Atowoju was arrested in the process of relocating four (4) of the escaped suspects; Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, Nuhu salisu a.k.a Small, Musa Mohammed a.k.a Iko and Emmanuel Audu from their criminal hideout at Ganaja Village, Lokoja to another location to escape police re-arrest.

v. Danjuma Yunusa a.k.a O2 ‘M’ 35Yrs – Accompanied the principal suspect Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama to the house of one Egga Ochai by water side, Lokoja.

vi. Egga Ochai ‘M’ 50Yrs – He harboured the principal suspect Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama in his house for two (2) days and thereafter went to the village of the principal suspect in Dekina Local Government and brought one Abbas Haruna (His Mallam) to Lokoja.

vii. Abbas Haruna ‘M’ 30Yrs – He is the Mallam of the principal suspect Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama. He also orchestrated his movement from Lokoja to his hometown at Tafa Balewa Local Government Area in Bauchi State where both of them were arrested.

viii. Gloria Audu ‘F’ 28Yrs – She is the sister to one of the above-mentioned suspects, Emmanuel Audu. She harboured him for some days to enable him to escape Police arrest.”

The Police assured that all the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of the investigation and commended the members of the public for cooperating with the Police by giving timely information that had in no doubt aided the re-arrest of the escaped suspects.