By Gabriel Atumeyi
The Niger State police command has apprehended four suspected kidnappers and recovered N230, 000.
Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Division arrested three suspects; Danjuma Mohammed (22), Mohammed Yasin (20) and Mohammed Usman (25), all of Barkin Saleh, Minna for conspiracy and kidnapping.
The fourth suspect, Victor Francis age (23) of Dikko area of Gurara LGA, was arrested by the Police operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun said an incident of suspected kidnapping was reported at Tudun-Wada Division that a 9-year-old boy was suspected to have been abducted by unknown people from school premises along Shiroro road, Minna at about 0745hrs.
He said the parents were contacted to pay a ransom of N500,000 by an unknown caller, but the boy was later found around Lamgbeji area of Barkin-Saleh at about 1900hrs after he escaped from the abductor while the case was under investigation.
He further explained that in June that another incident of kidnapping of a 9-year-old boy from David Mark road, Minna by unknown person(s) was also reported at the same division and the parents were equally contacted for a ransom of N45million.
The parents were made to pay a sum of N300,000 as agreed ransom through an account number sent to them before the victim was released on 13/06/2021.
“During the painstaking investigation, the Police operatives swung into action and arrested Danjuma Mohammed at Barkin-Saleh who also led the Police to the principal suspects; Mohammed Yasin and Mohammed Usman.
“Mohammed Yasin, during interrogation, confessed to the crime and narrated that he perpetrated the act with Mohammed Usman and one Almajiri who is presently at large.
“The Almajiri was used to open a bank account with fake details where the ransom was paid and Danjuma acted as informant.
“The following exhibits were recovered from the suspects, while effort to arrest the other accomplice is ongoing; A sum of N230,000, 2 ATM cards, 1 MTN sim card, 2 identity cards, 2 AEDC utility bill, 8 passport photographs, 2 postcard photographs, 1 Military camouflage face cap, 1 Tecno handset, 2 cutlass covers, 1 axe, 1 sow, 1 sword, 4 knives, 1 iron rod, 3 calabashes and assorted charms,” he said.