…Police arrest suspect in Kaduna
…Nab A’Ibom woman for faking own kidnap for N4m ransom
… FG tasks state govs on safe school response centres
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in separate operations, thwarted a kidnap attempt on passengers’ onboard three commercial buses in Kogi state.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
The statement partly read, “Troops successfully thwarted a kidnap attempt by criminal elements who attacked passengers’ onboard three commercial buses along Akpata-Obajana Road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi state.
“The vigilant troops arrived timely to avert the situation, rescuing the passengers and engaging the criminals in a hot pursuit.
“Some of the rescued passengers, who suffered injuries during the kidnap attempt, have been promptly evacuated to a hospital for medical attention.”
Kaduna
Similarly, the Kaduna state Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper in Ganga Uku, Mararaban Jos.
The police recovered arms such as a cartridge revolver rifle, a fabricated pistol, two Dane guns, six live cartridges and one discharged GPRG ammunition from the suspects.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansur Hassan, on Friday, said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Audu Dabigi hailed the CP Monitoring Unit for its outstanding performance, while urging the unit to do more to bring crime to the barest minimum across the state.
“On February 29, 2024, at approximately 1700hrs, the vigilant operatives of the CP Monitoring Unit conducted a well-coordinated operation at the residence of a suspect, Mr. Adamu Abdulwahab, in Ganga Uku Village, Mararaban Jos. The operation resulted in the apprehension of Mr. Abdulwahab and the recovery of crucial exhibits, including a fabricated cartridge revolver rifle, a fabricated pistol, two Dane guns, six live cartridges, one discharge GPRG ammunition, seven discharge cartridges, and a blood-stained cutlass.
“It was revealed during the investigation that Mr. Adamu Abdulwahab, 35, in connivance with other suspects who are currently at large, had kidnapped Mr. Samaila Abdullahi, 40, of Keke Kingdom, Mararaban Jos, on February 13, 2024, at approximately 1400hrs. The victim was forcefully taken to an unknown destination.
“The suspect is now in custody, cooperating with ongoing investigations, and providing valuable information to aid the police in bringing the remaining perpetrators to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police, commends the CP Monitoring Unit for their dedication, professionalism, and swift response in ensuring the safety of the community. The CP commends the Officer in Charge (OC) of the CP Monitoring Unit, CSP Jummai Amawo, and her dedicated team for their exceptional efforts and dedication to duty, saying that the iron lady has done it again.
“This successful operation underscores the overall commitment of the Police command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Ali Audu Dabigi, to maintain law and order in Kaduna state,” the PPRO said.
A’Ibom
In another development, Police in Akwa Ibom state have arrested a woman, Imaobong Sampson Francis of Nung Oku village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, for faking own kidnap for a N4Million ransom.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Waheed Ayilara, who disclosed in Uyo, Friday, said the command also rescued three kidnap victims with 52 suspects arrested for offences including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism and fraud in the last one month.
Ayilara narrated that, “On March 11, at 1000hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson that her sister, Imaobong Sampson, was kidnapped, the kidnappers demanding N4 million as ransom.
“As a result, operatives of the Anti Kidnap Squad of the Command embarked on intense, intelligence driven operation, to trackdown the perpetrators and rescue the victim.
“March 12, 2024, at about 2315hrs the purported victim, Imaobong Sampson and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong, were arrested in a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
“She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend, Beltus and three others to procalim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty, who is based abroad.”
The CP added that March 13 operatives of the Command arrested one Okon Edet (m) of Uruting village, Okobo LGA for killing his father, Chief Okon Edet, aged 75, of same address by beating him mercilessly with machete, leading to his death.
The murder suspect had alleged that the late father sold all parcels of land he had, including the one he gave to him to build his house as the motive for his action.
Ayilara further said on March 8, operatives of Anti Robbery Squad of the Command arrested one Akanimo Akpan of Efa Ayam village in Etinan LGA for involvement in adulterated fruits drink and other products.
In other operations, March 8, at about 1600hrs, one Akan Edet was arrested for using Point Of Sale (POS) to defraud innocent citizens and was to be set ablaze by a mob when operatives of COMPOL Monitoring Unit rescued him.
Ayilara alleged most victims Edet had defrauded have identified him and a cash of N350,000 recovered from him at the time of arrest.
Assuring all arrested suspects would be charged to Court when investigations were concluded, CP Ayilara reassured that, “The Command under my watch will collaborate with stakeholders in harnessing available resources to ensure that the State continue to remain the most peaceful.”
Safe school
Meanwhile, the federal government has called on state governors to establish Safe School Response Coordination Centres to forestall attacks and kidnappings in schools.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made this submission while inspecting facilities at the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre located at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters on Friday in Abuja.
The National Safe School Response Coordination Centre was established by the federal government in February 2023 to enhance the security of schools and host communities.
The centre is also to coordinate security agencies and other critical stakeholders by receiving and referring complaints as well as maintaining emergency hotlines.
The lead agency of the project is NSCDC, which works in collaboration with other sister agencies.
Inspecting the facilities, the Sununu explained that education was critical to the development of the country; hence, an attack on the system would have a ripple effect on the nation.
Sununu urged state governors to take proactive steps to safeguard schools in their domain.
He said the inspection became imperative owing to the recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Sokoto and Kaduna States.
“Education is the key ingredient for individuals, communities, and international organizations for rapid development.
“Nigeria is leading globally in areas of out-of-school children in spite of all investments in education; therefore, this attack is unacceptable.
“The abduction of school children by bandits is an attack on education which should not be condoned.
“We implore all the state governments in Nigeria to see how they can quickly, in the next few weeks, establish their own centre that will be directly connected to this centre,” he said.
The minister appreciated the NSCDC for its activities so far, saying the federal government was committed to repositioning the response Centre for optimal performance.
Responding, the Commandant of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Hammed Aboderin, appealed to members of the host communities to always avail the security agencies with the necessary information to enable them to carry out their duties.
Aboderin identified funding as a major challenge to achieving their mandate.
Also, the Head of Financing, Safe School Secretariat, Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hajia Halima Iliya, said modalities had been put in place to ensure adequate funding for the project.