Comfort Yakubu
The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested one of the seven-man gang that launched a fatal attack on the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, on October 21, 2022, along Benin – Auchi road, where six (6) people, including 3 police officers, were gruesomely murdered.
According to Police intelligence, the suspect who was identified as Yusuf Ismael Isah aged 32, is a plumber from Okene, Kogi State and his gang has been actively involved in kidnapping operations within Edo State and its environs, and has also carried out about 4 kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, before they were busted by the Police.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspect upon his arrest in Ondo State include 5 AK47 Rifles, 2 K2 Assault Rifles, 180 Rounds of Live Ammunition, 4 suspected locally made IEDs, 1 pistol, and 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” Police said.
The Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a press release on Thursday, noting that, the Force has arrested 1,412 Suspects for various violent crimes within two months across Nigeria.
They include 548 suspects for Armed Robbery, 242 suspects for Kidnapping, 365 suspects for Murder/Homicide, and 237 suspects for rape and defilement.
Recoveries made within the period under review include 350 illicit firearms, and 4,055 ammunition of various calibers, while 113 kidnap suspects were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.
Part of the statement reads;
“Similarly, 5 suspects were apprehended in Abuja for Conspiracy and Kidnapping. The suspects – Emu Larry Chidiebere, 34, Samuel Balogun, 22, Williams Banjo, 28, Babatunde Femi, 30, and Nneka Opara, 32, were arrested for kidnapping a foreign national and obtaining a ransom of 2000 Dollars from his relatives. The suspects held the victim hostage in an apartment from May 30, 2023, to June 2, 2023.
“The suspects took pictures of the victim and forwarded the pictures and threat messages to the girlfriend of the victim in Zurich, who eventually sent them the sum of 2000 dollars via Western Union on June 1, 2023.
“Additionally, the Police have sustained a continuous assault on the camps of some non-state actors in the South-East enforcing an illegal sit-at-home order, particularly in Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi States.
“In Enugu, 4 suspects were neutralized following a gun duel with operatives of the Force on Friday 7th July 2023 while 1 AK47 with 19 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 2 Molotov cocktails were recovered.
“In Ebonyi, 17 suspects were arrested following a raid on the hideout of secessionist agitators on 5th and 6th of July, 2023, while 1 locally made revolver, 2 vehicle number plates, and 3 live ammunition were recovered.
“Similarly, in Imo, police operatives arrested 26 hoodlums following the murder of a young man in their rampage, and successfully recovered 5 firearms, 66 live ammunition, and several other exhibits.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to continually ensure the safety and security of all and sundry while emphasizing that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the effort to suppress and decimate criminality and the heinous activities of non-state actors who cause pain, hardship, and sorrows to innocent law-abiding members of the Nigerian society,” the statement noted.
