By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The police in Niger state has arrested a 50 years old Umar Samaila of Gussasu village, Maikunkele, Bosso Local Government Area of the state who serves as ‘spiritual adviser’ to notorious inter-state kidnappers operating between Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Acting on technical intelligence, the police operatives attached to the Intelligent Unit of the command, also foiled plans to kidnap some worshipers in a Church at Buku village, Abaji Area Council of FCT, Abuja.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu A Abiodun, on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Niger State, said the suspect during interrogations, confessed being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating around North-Central states of; Niger, FCT Abuja, and Nasarawa state.
During the last conversation between Umar and his gang members at about 0720 hours, the statement disclosed how the suspect gave the go-ahead to carry out the operation, assuring them of a successful expedition.
The suspect, according to the Police statement, promised the gang members that he would also pray for the release of a suspected bandit known as 'JULLI' who is currently in police custody at the FCT, Abuja command.
Also on November 16, 2021, at about 1700 hours, information received from a credible source revealed that some suspected kidnappers/cattle rustlers were sighted at Maijaki forest around the Lapai and Rafindaji forest, a boundary location between Niger and the FCT Abuja.
On receipt of this information, a joint Police/vigilante attached to Lapai Division Police were mobilized to the forest and the following suspects; Abubakar Alhaji Buba, age 27 years of Babana village, Borgu Local Government Area, and 44 years old Abubarkar Garba.
Also arrested for the same offense are; Shehu Mallam Jare, age 20 years of Rafindaji village in Lapai Local Government Area, and Abubakar Na'Allah, age 25 years of Maijaki village, Lapai and recovered 40 cows and 15 sheep in their possession.
On interrogations, the suspects who had claimed to be cattle rearers in the said forests could not give a satisfactory account of the cattle in their possession.
While the suspected spiritual adviser to some notorious kidnappers will be transferred to the FCT command, Abuja, that of the cattle rustling is still being investigated and the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution on conclusion of the investigation. NNL.
