Following the recent inauguration of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested 16 notorious criminals, seized arms and ammunition.
The suspects paraded on Saturday included three kidnappers who resided in Bwari. Idris Ishak, male, 27 years old. Bala Umar, male, 27 years old. Dahiru Salisu, male, 27 years old, responsible for a series of armed robberies and kidnappings in Bwari local government area and other parts of Abuja.
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement that a joint team of operatives arrested 13 suspects for various other crimes.
“Among the achievements recorded was the thwarting of another kidnapping plot through technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of the said kidnappers and recovery of weapons from Bwari,” the statement said.
On January 3, 2024, there was an outcry following the kidnapping of six brothers and their father from Bwari Local Council, Abuja. The kidnappers reportedly killed one of the sisters, identified as Nabiha, after his parents failed to meet the deadline to pay the N60 million ransom.
Mr Adejobi said police officers were on the trail of criminals and some arrests had been made.
“We are taking proactive action following reports that the victim was abducted from his home along with a Hilux Van Reg. No. RBC 90 by four armed men disguised as a white Mercedes-Benz 230 car. DL Grey, police intelligence investigation revealed that the victim was taken to Kano state but the ATM card was taken away in Kaduna. Naira (N500,000.00) was withdrawn from his account,” he said. said.
“But the suspects were unlucky. Three of them escaped after being caught by police officers at a gas station in Kaduna, and one person, Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael, was arrested. Victim was safely rescued and the said Hilux was recovered.” Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices were arrested during November 2023 and arraigned on similar charges at the High Court, Kwari, Abuja. Information has been gathered that he committed another even more heinous crime while in prison.
“Furthermore, operatives from the DFI-IRT office were in the process of negotiating with several notorious bandits currently on the run for the purchase and supply of illegal firearms and ammunition. -Magazi was captured. Eleven pistols and two pump-action weapons were recovered from the suspects.”
