The Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto State Command, on Tuesday, paraded eight suspects for allegedly kidnapping and banditry in the state.
Speaking while parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Muhammed Gumel, called on parents to always monitor their wards.
The CP, while parading the suspects, said on December 4, at about 1435hrs, one Suleman Musa reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Sokoto, that around 1400hrs, unknown persons conspired and kidnapped his son, one Musa Suleman aged seven years, and kept him at unknown destination for four days in captivity until the sum of four million naira ransom was extorted from the family members after which the boy was released.
He said, “Painstaking, police investigation identified one Haliru Riskuwa, who is a neighbour to the family and popularly known (as) ‘Lopetee’ ‘M’ of Arkilla State Low-Cost Area in Sokoto and was subsequently arrested.
“During police investigation, he confessed to the police on how he conspired alongside with his other gang members and committed the crime. According to him, he committed the crime along with one Abdullahi Umar ‘M’ and Faruku Usman Binji all of Plateau State and Binji LGA, Sokoto State respectively.
“All the suspects are in police custody except Faruk Usman Binji who is still at large. So far, two million, five hundred thousand naira ( N2,500,000.00) cash has been recovered as exhibit from the suspects.”
CP Gumel further explained that following series of complaints at the central police station, miscreants are launching armed robbery attacks, snatching of cell phones, engaging in free-for-all fights and inflicting injuries to several victims.
“On the 6th day of December, 2022, one Abubakar Tukur, a.k.a Aba; Suleiman Abubakar, a.ka. Dan Wanka; and Auwalu Bello, a.k.a Suwari all ‘M’ of Hubbare area, Sokoto were arrested by the police of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Marina, in connection with the offences of criminal conspiracy, political thuggery, being in possession of dangerous weapons, causing grievous hurt and armed robbery. The suspects were arrested with exhibits such as: go-to-hell kind of weapon, long cutlass, knives and scissors.”
He also explained that on December 9, one Professor Bello Bazza, ‘M’ of Sokoto, reported at the SCID that he went to Juma’at Mosque on the Ali Akilu road and discovered that his Toyota Vibe with Reg. no. AZ 2685 KML was stolen, which he reported the case to U/rogo Police Station and Control Room.
“On 10/12/2022 at about 23000hrs, a good Samaritan was passing around Shehu Shagari College of Education when he noticed a strange person with the vehicle. The attention of policemen at the CID was drawn and the team quickly mobilised to the scene. On noticing policemen approaching the scene, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and took to their hills”
The CP further said the usual crime preventive measures the police always adopted to keep the state safe and to ensure peace and order, the Divisional Police Officer of Isa LGA conducted raid at the surrounding of some political parties’ secretariats in Isa town on the November 20, 2022, at about 1400hrs.
In the course of the exercise, Gumel said weapons including axe, saw, sticks, and a Dane gun, etc. were recovered from both parties’ secretariats.
He assured that the police was escalating high level vigilance and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
