The police have arrested several criminals terrorising citizens along the Kaduna-Abuja road axis from January 2024 to date, including those who masterminded the attack on Greenfield University and that of Southern Kaduna, where a seminarian and the church were burnt to ashes.

Parading the suspects during his visit to Kaduna Police Command on Thursday, Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the arrest of the mastermind followed painstaking efforts to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

He said, “Under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, a helicopter has been deployed to serve as an escort for trains using the route, providing aerial support for the ground troops from the armed forces, police, and other security agencies deployed along the corridor, as well as a proactive measure to prevent attacks and act as a first responder in the event of any untoward incidents.”

“This proactive measure has proven instrumental in enhancing security along the corridor, ultimately safeguarding the lives and property of commuters and residents of the adjourning communities along the route.”

“During this period, our proactive measures and relentless pursuit of criminal elements have resulted in remarkable outcomes, including the arrest of 81 armed robbery suspects, 40 kidnap suspects, 73 murder/homicide suspects, 36 rape suspects, 22 suspects involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 suspects engaged in other criminal activities,” he said.

He explained that they have “successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types, along with 226 ammunitions of diverse calibers. Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizer.

“A total of three million, three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N3,350,000) only, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed.”

“These achievements include the arrest of Mande, leader of the kidnapping syndicate. On January 12, 2024, police operatives attached to the anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), based on credible information, swooped in and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi, aka MANDE, at the Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji. He had participated in various kidnapping incidents, including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University, and he participated in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”

He said on February 29, 2024, “vigilant operatives of the Kaduna Command Monitoring Unit conducted a well-coordinated operation at the residence of a suspected kidnapper, one Adamu Abdulwahab, in Ganga Uku Village, Mararaban Jos, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect and recovery of crucial exhibits, including 1 fabricated cartridge revolver rifle, 1 fabricated pistol, 2 Dane guns, 6 live cartridges, 1 discharged GPRG ammunition, 7 discharged cartridges, 2 SIM cards, 2 TECNO handsets, and 1 bloodstained cutlass.

“It was revealed during investigation that 35-year-old Adamu Abdulwahab, in connivance with other suspects who are currently at large, had kidnapped one Samaila Abdullahi, aged 40, of Keke Kingdom, Mararaban Jos, on February 13, 2024, and forcefully taken him to an unknown destination. Efforts is being intensified to locate and rescue the victim.”

According to him, “On April 7, 2024, police operatives were attached to the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS). Abuja, in collaboration with Operation Yaki operatives in Kaduna Command, arrested one Abubakar Umar, aged 20 years, of Bagega Village via Anka LGA of Zamfara State, in possession of four hundred and sixty (60) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside a stabiliser box at Zaria City Kaduna, with a mission to deliver it to one Doctor Dan Sadi of Bagega for onward transfer to a notorious bandit known as Ladan, who is expected to receive the ammunition. The suspects are being rounded up and will be prosecuted accordingly.

“On 12th February, 2024, suspected bandit/gun runner Adamu Shuaibu, aged 35, from Dumale Village under Jere L.G.A. of Kaduna State, was arrested following reliable information available to the police on his involvement in criminal activities within the state, including the supply of arms and ammunition to other criminal suspects. One (1) AK-47 rifle with breach no. 1970/TY 1938 and an empty magazine was recovered from his custody.”

“On September 7, 2023, at about 2030 hrs, the Officer in Charge of Fadan Kamanta, Zonkwa, alerted authorities of a distressing situation at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Kamantan, where suspected kidnappers had launched an attack. Due to the urgency of the situation, police operatives, in collaboration with military personnel, swiftly mobilized to the scene.

“Regrettably, the suspects had already set ablaze the priest’s residence before the arrival of the authorities. Despite the valiant efforts of operatives, one seminarian, Stephen Naaman, tragically lost his life in the inferno, and property worth millions of Naira, including a Honda vehicle and a motorcycle, was consumed by the fire.

“However, due to diligence and tireless pursuit of the issue by the police, on March 22, 2024, one Yakubu Saidu, the mastermind and leader of the notorious kidnapping gang, was apprehended, and he confessed to his involvement in the heinous crime.”

The Nigeria Police, on Thursday, announced the arrest of the alleged mastermind of the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna where some passengers were killed while scores were abducted in March 2022.

The mastermind was identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known by the ominous moniker of Mandi.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, also disclosed that the suspect had also participated in the abduction of students from Greenfield University in 2021.

Adejobi also added that 48 AK-47 rifles were seized during Mandi’s arrest and efforts were underway to identify his sponsor and supplier of weapons.

He said, “On 12th January 2024, police operatives attached to an anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department, based on credible information swooped in and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi aka MANDE at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”

He added that operatives have successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types along with 226 ammunition of diverse calibres.

“Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizers.

“A total of three million, three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N3,350,000) only, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed. These achievements include.”

The police spokesman further said that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, remains steadfast in its resolve to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety and security of all citizens as well as combat criminal activities in the country.

It will be recalled that some bloodthirsty terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March 28 and abducted some passengers.

The  terrorists had reportedly planted explosive devices along the rail track and when the train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail, leading to the death of eight passengers.

A day after the attack, another passenger who suffered from a gunshot wound died, making it nine, the total number of those killed in that attack.

From the manifest received by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 398 passengers bought tickets but 362 were validated as having bought tickets.

There is palpable tension in and around the Ile Ipo market, in the Alimosho LGA of Lagos, following a fight that led to the torching of stalls and goods.

It was gathered that the crisis began on Wednesday night following a rift over a game of lotto.

On Thursday, it was learnt that a trader who is from the northern region of the country, played the popular game and won a certain amount of money.

However, when the trader walked to the lotto vendor to claim his money, there was a disagreement over the exact amount won.

The altercation between the trader and the lotto vendor was said to have snowballed into an ethnic squabble and a free-for-all fight which was seized by hoodlums.

Fire was set to a section of the market amid the faceoff, leaving traders and customers scampering for safety. Thereafter, shops were looted and burnt as tempers flared.

The fight continued on Thursday morning before police officers were mobilised to the scene.

Some persons were said to have sustained injuries during the clash.

At the moment, all the shops in the market have been shuttered, with police officers patrolling the vicinity and the neighbourhood to maintain law and order.