Troops from the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The suspect, identified as Suleiman Ahmad, a local from Bomanda village, is believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of 20 individuals within the Lau area and extorted over N70 million from his victims.
In his confessional statement, the suspect admitted to being in possession of an AK-47 rifle, which he used for his criminal activities, according to a statement from the troops.
During a follow-up operation on 15 November 2024, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle from a hidden location and apprehended one of Ahmad’s accomplices.
The accomplice, Hussaini, a suspected gunrunner, was arrested at his residence in the Mayo Dassa area of Lau LGA.
The troops reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, stating: “We will continue to deploy all necessary resources to dismantle criminal networks and protect law-abiding residents from the scourge of kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.”
They further emphasised that public cooperation and support are crucial in achieving these goals and encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.