29th March, 2017
The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Alhaji Isa Salami, former General Manager of Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), who was kidnapped in Maitama, Abuja on March 21.
The suspects are: Kelvin Emeka, 28, gang leader, a native of Owgwu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ndubuisi Ozor, 31, from Nsukwato Local Government Area of Abia, Abdulrasheed Maigari, 35, native of Donga Local Government Area of Taraba, a dismissed DSS personnel.
Others are: Sunday Travnor, 33, of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Zayor Alfred, 23, of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Avah Joseph, 25, of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue, Rajab Ishiaka, 22 of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba, Ali Sani, 27 of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba, Nuhu Sule, 20 of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba and Mohammed Abubakar,21 of Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger.
Briefing newsmen on the arrest in Abuja on Wednesday, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said the suspects were arrested by the I-G Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the anti-kidnap squad of the FCT Police Command between March 26 and March 28 in Abuja.
Moshood said Items recovered from them include; one AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two pistols, 14 rounds 9mm live ammunition and a two bedroom flat at different locations.
He said that the victim was rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout, a two bedroom house rented by them in a remote part of Suleja, Niger.
He said that Emeka and his gang were earlier charged to a High Court in Gwagwalada in October for kidnapping a lady (name withheld) and several others in Abuja.
“This suspect and his gang were released by the court on Dec. 8, less than eight weeks after being charged for kidnapping and robbery,”the force spokesman said.
Moshood said that the suspects were identified by their victims and they confessed to the crime and the various roles they had played.
He said that the police were not to be blame for the release of the suspects by the court, adding that the police had provided all evidences required to prosecute them.
He called on all criminal justice officers to always discharge their duties diligently to avoid criminals escaping justice.
The force spokesman said that the I-G has assured the FCT residents and other states of the federation of adequate security.
He also implored them to cooperate with the police deployed in their localities to serve them better by providing useful information to the police.
He said the suspects would be charged to court after completion of investigation.
Four kidnap cases were reported in Kwali Area Council, two in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and one in Bwari and Abaji Area Councils each in 2016.