We decided to kidnap our victim in lieu of our original target, his elder brother —Suspect

ONE of the six suspected members of a kidnap syndicate, 51-year-old Suleiman Abubakar, has spoken on how the mastermind of the crime, Abdullahi Dangijo, decided to abduct Alhaji Adamu Issa, the younger brother of his initial target, one Alhaji Magaji, when the target was not in the mosque, a spot they thought he would be easily found.

Abubakar and five others — Muhammadu Ahmadu a.k.a Jalgo (41), Musa Bello a.k.a. Mujumba (21), Abdullahi Abubakar a.k.a Nodiwa (45), Taoreed Ibrahim (41) and Ilu Ahmadu (35) — were arrested by the Monitoring Unit of Oyo State Police Command for allegedly abducting Alhaji Issa, after which they demanded for ransom.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, who was represented by the command’s spokesman, SP Adewale Osifeso, at a press briefing,  suspected members of an armed robbery cum kidnapping syndicate invaded a filling station at Eleekara area, Oyo town with dangerous weapons, and attacked Alhaji Issa.

After dispossessing him of his mobile phones and cash, the suspects reportedly abducted him to an unknown destination.

“The suspects later contacted the victim’s relatives demanding for a huge ransom with threats that he (the abductee) would be killed if the huge sum was not paid forthwith.

“The incident was then reported at the Command for onward transfer to the Monitoring Unit which immediately swung into action with the intent to rescue the victim unhurt,” the CP stated.

As the operatives were busy combing a thick forest where the victim was suspected to be held hostage, the kidnappers reportedly sensed their presence nearby and fled, giving the victim an opportunity to escape.

Recovered from them were a black Golf Car with registration number LAGOS AGL 756 HR, said to have been used to whisk the victim off the scene of crime and a Pontiac Vibe vehicle with registration number ABUJA YAB 75 JY.

They reportedly confessed to have purchased vehicles from the proceeds of their previous criminal activities. The suspects also opened up on series of high profile armed robbery cum kidnapping they had carried out at different locations in the state.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Abubakar spoke on his involvement thus: “I’m from Nasarawa State. I’ve been in ibadan for 37 years, working as a labourer at Bodija. I later became the chairman of all labourers. I was also at Eleekara in Oyo Town for six years before settling in to Ibadan.

“It was one engineer who called me to do a job for him in Oyo. One  Abdullahi Dangijo called me and asked where I was. I told him I was in a mosque in Oyo and he said he was also on his way there.

“When he arrived, I went to meet him by the Golf car he came in.  He asked of Alhaji Magaji and I told him the man was not around. I pointed at Magaji’s brother, Adamu, who was sitting with three others in front of a warehouse beside a filling station there. We went inside the mosque to pray at 7pm and after that, Dangijo said he was no longer interested in staying to pray at 8pm and went outside the mosque.

“Adamu and the three people with him were waiting for 8pm prayer when Dangijo’s gang started shooting and abducted him. As we heard the shooting, we all scampered into safety when I came out, people around started pointing at me, saying that I came with the leader of the kidnap gang. They said I should bring back Adamu, but I denied any involvement. They started beating me. The people called the police and I was saved from being killed.

“I was taken to police office and treated of the injuries I got. Then I received a call from Dangijo and I told him to call me back later.  At that time, I was being  interrogated by the Monitoring operatives. The following day, he called again and the Police were able to trail the person he sent to me, Mohammadu Ahmadu a.k.a Jalgo

“I knew Jalgo at my shop in Bodija area of Ibadan. I knew he was involved in kidnapping.  He had a broken leg at that time and was taken care of.”

Abubakar further confessed that he was informed that the gang was coming to kidnap Alhaji Magaji. He said they were five-member gang who came with AK-47 rifles, with three of them holding one each. Nigerian Tribune learnt that he had stayed in the vicinity for a week mounting surveillance on Magaji.

“I was not promised anything. They told me that they would give me my own share after ransom payment. I knew Alhaji Magaji as a transporter who has a number of trucks,” Abubakar added.

In his confession, Jalgo said: “I’m from Chikanda, Kosubosu Local Government Area of Kwara State. I was into cattle rearing before I ventured into kidnapping.

“I was at home when Dangijo called and asked where I was. I told him. He said he wanted to go to Ibadan from Abuja but didn’t have anyone there that he could stay with at Sabo. Dangijo asked me to get him Abubakar’s number. I called Shehu in Ibadan and he sent me Abubakar’s number.  I forwarded it to Dangijo.

“I was in Ibadan to see how far my mechanic had gone with the repair of my car in. On getting there, I called Abubakar. Initially, he didn’t respond, but after evening prayer, Abubakar called me. I told him I was standing by the road side, promising to call him after returning inside.

“Later, he asked me where Dangijo was and I told him I didn’t know. Abubakar told me he had a discussion with Dangijo  but after then, he said he would like to see me for a discussion.

“It is true I’m also a kidnapper, but I was not involved in the kidnapping in Oyo. I knew about it but didn’t follow them for the operation.  I started kidnapping two years ago. I once kidnapped in Kebbi State and along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. In Kebbi, I was given N300,000 the first time, N470,000 the second time and N250,000 the third time. I was engaged as a driver.  We got N7 million from Lagos-Ibadan expressway kidnapping and I was given N500,000.”

Musa Bello, aged 21 who is also from Kwara State spoke on his involvement in the kidnapping: “I was called by Abubakar and sent by Jalgo. I worked with the kidnap gang at Onigaari. I was given N200,000.”

Taoreed, the only Yoruba in the gang and an Ibadan indigene, disclosed that he was in prison eight years ago for his involvement in the kidnap of the owner of a pharmacy at Ojoo area. He said that he and Jalgo participated in the kidnap then.

“I was a mechanic. I knew Jalgo about eight years ago when we were both arrested. I was an inmate over a kidnap operation I carried out with our leader then, Foluso Jeffrey.

Recalling how he got into prison, Taoreed said: I used to drive people to destinations on an agreed amount, and Foluso called to ask if I could take someone to Lagos. We agreed on N10,000 as the amount that I would be paid.

“He called to meet him at Ojoo in Ibadan. He had a Toyota Corolla and told me that I would use it to take his wife to Lagos. At about 7:30pm, he started following a woman to Akobo area. He had two others in the car with him. I saw guns with them and asked him what was happening.  He only told me to keep quiet.

“He left me in his car with one of those in it and went into a house. He came out with another car and asked me to drive his car and follow him. We got to Iyana Church and they took the woman inside a warehouse. Later, on our way to Lagos, he stopped and went inside the bush with the woman in the car he drove. He came out later and we went to Lagos. He gave me N10,000 when we got there and I returned to Ibadan.

“Three days after, I called him to ask if he had released the victim, unknown to me that he had been arrested. I was also picked from my workshop.

“I was in prison for two years but was released when the complainant said that she was no longer interested in pursuing the case. We were five and all Yoruba except Jalgo who was security man at the warehouse where the kidnap victim was temporarily kept.

“I left prison in 2018 and started farming, and also continued in my job as a mechanic. This year, I came across Jalgo at Ojoo. He told me he had a faulty Toyota Picnic car and I assured him that I would help him repair it. That was how we started relating again. I was the one who used to take him to Jega in Kebbi State whenever he had something to do there. There was also a day he asked me to buy gaari and come with  a motorcyclist to bring it to him in Ogere, Ogun state. He gave me N250,000. In total, I’ve got N1.2 million from him this year.”

The police commissioner said that investigations would be ongoing in order to apprehend other suspects at large.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Nigeria’s current situation lamentable — Anyaoku

• Bukola Saraki foundation covers Mr Ibu’s medical bills

• Hold my pastor responsible if anything happens to me — Chef Dammy

• Why Tiwa Savage may not sing for more than a year

• How Gomba won 2023 Nigeria Prize for Literature

• What causes kidney failure