Police Parade Thirteen Notorious Militia/ Kidnappers And Armed Robbery Gangs Responsible For Slaughtering Of Nineteen Innocent People

The Special Tactical Squad attached to Operation Absolute Sanity and personnel of Niger State Police Command under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Niger State in line with the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, concerned with the loss of innocent lives in the towns, villages and communities along the Minna-Bida-Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Tegina-Kaduna highways, have arrested those behind the loss of innocent lives.

While parading the suspects at the Niger State Police Command on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officers CSP Jimoh Moshood said consequent on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, the joint team moved in and raided all the identified criminal camps, kidnappers’ dens and hideouts in the Forest in Birnin-Gwari, Tegina, Alawa and Kabata town in Niger State. The operations that lasted several days and intense exchange of fire between the Police Joint Team and this vicious militia/kidnap for ransom gang resulted in the arrest of Thirteen mentioned suspects and recovery of the cache of prohibited arms and ammunition which include: ThreeAK47 Rifles,  Two English pump action with breach,  Ten locally made single barrel guns,  One colt USA made pistol with breach no 574912013, One revolver pistol, One Single barrel pistol,  Two locally made revolver pistol,  Two Ak47 Magazines,  Sixty Five AK47 ammunition, Eighty Eight live cartridges, Five expended Live Ammunition, Eighteen live ammunitions of .9mm, Five fabricated live ammunitions of 7.9mm,  Two sharp knives, One cutlass and Heaps of Charms

The Police spokesperson further reiterated that the gang confessed to have been responsible for the kidnap and slaughtering of seven persons from a mosque at Kabata town under Rafin LGA of Niger State late last year. They also admitted to be responsible for the attack on a Police Post at Alawa town in Shiroro LGA of Niger State where the Police Post was burnt down and two Policemen who were in a team on a rescue mission of some kidnapped victims were ambushed and killed by this Militia gang. The Gang leader, Lawal Maisaje a.k.a Lawal Kwali and his second in command Zakairu Mamman during interrogation confessed that they have slaughtered more than nineteen innocent people in the mentioned villages which include a father and his son after collection of ransom from most of the victims ranging from One Million Naira to Three Million Naira. Investigation is being intensified to arrest other gang members still at large.

CSP Moshood said the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation. He also said that the Nigeria Police will not relent in its renewed effort to rid the country of all forms of crimes and criminality and ensure adequate protection, security and safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians throughout the country.