22nd November, 2021
By Aminu Garko/Minna
The Niger Police command has arrested a spiritual consultant to bandits, who were planning to abduct worshippers in a Church at Buku village, Abaji area council of FCT Abuja.
Police spokesman in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, made the disclosure in a statement in Minna on Monday.
Abiodun said police operatives attached to Intelligence unit of the command arrested Umar Samaila of Gussasu village via Maikunkele, Bosso LGA in connection with the planned crime.
He explained that on Nov. 20 at about 1120 hours, the police were tipped about a plan to kidnap some worshipers on Nov. 21 in a Church at Buku village, Abaji area council of FCT Abuja.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed of being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating in Niger, FCT Abuja and Nasarawa states.
During his last conversation with his gang on same date at about 0720 hours, he directed them to go ahead for the operation and assured them of success.
He also promised to pray for the release of a suspected bandit known as ‘JULLI’ currently in Police custody at Abuja.
The spokesman said the suspect will be transferred to FCT command, Abuja for further investigation.
Similarly on Nov. on 16 at about 1700 hours, arrested some suspected kidnapppers and cattle rustlers, sighted at Maijaki forest via Lapai and Rafindaji forest, boundary between Niger and FCT Abuja.
On receipt of this information, a joint Police/vigilante attached to Lapai division were mobilized to the forests and arrested the four suspects with forty cows and fifteen sheep in their possession.
During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be rearing cattle in the said forests but could not give satisfactory account of the cattle in their possession.
The spokesman said the case is under investigation while the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after investigation is concluded.