How Police ex-DIG, 44 others were killed

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Since March this year, 45 persons have been serially killed by assassins using motor bikes in Kano, northwest Nigeria, police Commissioner, Ibrahim K. Idris told newsmen on Tuesday.

Data from the Bompai Police Headquarters indicated that out of these 45 people murdered in cold blood, 90 per cent were innocent civilians, while 10 per cent were security personnel.

The Police boss also said that the killers of a retired Deputy Inspector General, DIG, of Police, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar Ningi, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and a State Security Service, SSS, personnel, murdered at different times in Kano recently, have been arrested.

P.M.NEWS recalls that DIG Ningi was assassinated along with his friend and driver on 5 June on his way to home from his factory at Dakata Sauna, Kawaji Industrial Layout, Kano.

Police investigation confirmed that the murder of the late DIG was masterminded by his close associates.

According to CP Idris, one Salihu Goni Amma alias Kaka, 34, of Rijiyan Lemu Quarters was arrested over the murder of the late DIG, following a tip-off by a discernible citizen, adding that upon interrogation, he confessed to be part of the conspiracy that led to the assassination of the late DIG Ningi.

He said further investigation led to the arrest of Alhaji Gana Bukar, 34, of Rakat Quarters, Hotoro who allegedly conspired to assassinate the late DIG, together with others at large.

“According to Goni, he was the mastermind of the plot. He was very close to the late senior officer and used his closeness to plan and carry out the act. He monitored the late officer in his factory and as he departed the factory, he alerted Alhaji Gana Bukar who together with one other at large ambushed the DIG in a block-making industry near the late senior officer’s factory and assassinated him.

“It is pertinent to state here that Salihu Goni has very close relationship with the families of the late senior officer. The late DIG has been his benefactor, helping him with money and food items during Sallah celebrations and other festivities. He has been a constant visitor to the family house, severally eating together with them,” the Commissioner of Police stated.

According to him, Alhaji Bukar Gana also confessed to have had a hand in the killing of a Chief Superintendent of Customs and a State Security Service, SSS, officer who were murdered last month at different locations within Kano metropolis, adding that all the suspects have been transferred to Force Headquarters.

Police also nabbed Mohammed Tahir a.k.a Bala Tela, 22, of Dandishe Kurna Quarters for habouring Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs.

Tahir, a tailor was arrested with three cans of IEDs made of TNT which were recovered from his tailoring workshop.

He confessed to have conspired with others at large to attack Bayero University, Kano, BUK, on 29 April.

Idris further stated that in less than one month, Kano Police Command has detonated IEDs in five locations in the state, “these locations are Rimin Kebe, Wudil, Dandishe, Sani Abacha Youth Centre and Fagge.

“A total of 14 IEDs of different sizes and designs were recovered and detonated. The discoveries and timely detonation of these explosives has preempted the destructive impact these explosives would have wreaked on the lives and properties of innocent citizens of the state,” the Police boss stated.

CP Idris urged members of the public to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the police and other security outfits in the state, while chraging security guards at places of worship and recreation centres to liaise with the police to ensuring security of lives and property in those areas.