Police nab eight suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping in Niger

106

The Niger Police Command has arrested eight suspects over alleged Kidnapping and Armed Robbery in different of part of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammadu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Minna.

Abubakar said that on Jan 13, police operatives attached to Lapai Division arrested four suspects for kidnapping one Sani Dukuma of Fota village Lapai Local Government Area, who later escaped from the kidnappers.

According to him, investigation revealed that on 12th January, 2019 the suspects kidnapped the father of the victim and collected N1.5 million as ransom before he was released.

“Suspects confessed to the crime, and the case was charged to court.

“Similarly, on 15th January, information was received that some unknown kidnappers attacked some Fulani men along Rafin Daji village of Lapai Local Government Area.

“Three persons were kidnapped while grazing with their cattle at Zungeru town of Wushishi Local Government Area to unknown location and demanded N3 million as ransom.

“On receipt of the information a team of policemen attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad Minna swung into action, engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel, which lasted for several hours.

“The victims were rescued unhurt while suspects fled to the bush with bullet wound, abandoning one AK47 rifle with empty magazine.”

According to him, the case is still under investigation with a view to arrest the suspects.

In another operation, on Jan. 22 information was received that some unknown armed robbers numbering about seven blocked Kpellegi-Shafini road in Mashegu Local Government Area terrorizing residents of the area.

“On receipt of the information, a team of policemen from Ibbi Division swung into action, engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and arrested four suspects,” he said.

The police spokesman said that exhibits recovered include, one AK47 rifle, two locally made pistol and three machetes,

He said that the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be charged to court soon.

The command solicited for more supports of members of the general public by coming out with information about dubious characters for prompt security action.