Police arrest seven ‘kidnappers’ in Kaduna

The Kaduna police command says it has arrested seven suspected kidnappers in the state.

Mohammad Jalige, spokesman of the command, made this known during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Jalige said Mannir Salihu, one of the suspects, was napped in connection with the killing of one Idris Bashir.

Salihu, who is said to be a friend to Bashir, allegedly killed him to avoid refunding the sum of N385,000 he owed the deceased.

Salihu reportedly confessed to having committed the crime alongside one Aliyu Yahaya.

They were said to have lured the victim to an uncompleted building where they killed him and dumped the body in an abandoned well.

“On the 5th June, 2021 at about 0900hrs the Command received a complaint from one Bashir of Zaria town that on the 4th June, 2021 at about 1000hrs his biological son one Idris Bashir left home and never returned,” Jalige said.

“He said the matter was reported to the police by the father of the deceased who pointed accusing fingers at Salihu, his son’s friend.

“They decided to commit the dastardly act of ending the victim’s life in a gruesome manner, in order to avoid refunding the sum of N385,000.00 they owed the deceased.

“The suspects led the police to the scene where the body of late Idris Bashir was exhumed and taken to Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, for examination and later released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.”

Jalige further said that one Sani Sa’adu was also arrested in connection with the abduction of his neighbour’s four-year-old son in Zaria.

“On the strength of the complaint, the police immediately launched an investigation into the said allegation,” he said.

“On the 16th May, 2021 the abductors sent a letter containing a GSM number to the (father of the boy), directing him to call and pay the sum of N1.5m if he wants to secure the freedom of his son.

“However, after much persuasion the abductors agreed to accept the sum of N50,000 through the account of a POS agent at Zuba, Abuja.

“The victim was released on the 19th May, 2021 at about 1700hrs through a commercial motorcyclist in Gwargwaje area of Zaria Metropolis.

“In a turn of events, the victim kept calling the name of one Sani Sa’adu who is their neighbour which arose the suspicion that he might know a thing about the incident.

“Police immediately intervened and invited the said Sani Sa’adu for questioning.

“Lo and behold, it was discovered that he is the principal suspect who masterminded the kidnapping incident and went ahead to mention his criminal accomplices as one Abdullahi Usman and Usman Idris all of the same address.

“They were both arrested and currently undergoing investigation after which they will all be charged to court as soon as possible.”

The police also arrested three suspects at Hayin Naiya area of Kaduna in connection with the abduction of a six-year-old boy in March.

The suspects were identified as Jabir Salisu, Abba Ibrahim and Muhammed Shaibu.

Jalige said all the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

He called on members of the public “to always be wary of their environment to avoid falling victims of trust from neighbours and so-called friends”.