The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday confirmed arresting a suspected major financier and armourer of the dreaded Basalube kidnap gang in Kogi, Lawal Mohammed.
A statement issued by the DSS spokesman in Abuja, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said the suspect was arrested on March 23, at Japama in Obajana local government area of Kogi.
Opuiyo said the suspect was apprehended with two other members of the gang – Mohammed Tukur and Abubakar Ibrahim – by the joint team of DSS and the military during the operation.
He said Tukur was identified as the Chief surveillance officer of the gang who coordinated the gang’s movement across Rivers, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, preparatory to the execution of their operations.
Opuiyo said items recovered from the suspects included three cell phones and 25 bottles of psychotropic inducers.
In a related development, the DSS said it has also arrested five suspected members of the Basulube kidnap gang at Ughelli North local government area of Delta State.
The suspects are – Ali Abubakar, a top ranking member of the gang, Abubakareem Idrisa,Bashir Tsoho, Sanusi Abubakar, Nuhu Muhammadu and Abubakar Abdulhammeed.
“This arrest was effected while Abubakar was perfecting plans to carry out kidnap operations in Obajana, Kogi,” he said.
He said in its determination to decimate the gang, the DSS on March 26 arrested Abubakar Danlansu, driver and weapon courier of the group at Dikko area of Niger.
“The suspect was arrested enroute Edo from where he was to convey weapons to Obajana in Kogi for the gang’s planned kidnap operations,” he added.
