Police nab gang of killer kidnappers in Ogun
Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Monday, shot and killed one Alhaji Muntari Mai Yadi and kidnapped his son, Usman, at Yankara town in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A son of the deceased, Younusa Mukhar Yankara, in a Facebook post, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about 11:00p.m. He wrote: “It has happened. Gunmen have killed my father, Alhaji Muntari Mai Yadi, and they have kidnapped my brother Usman. From God we are and to Him we shall return. The soldiers brought to Faskari are not useful. God is enough for us to forgive this government. May God forgive my father.”
The victim was laid to rest on Tuesday according to Islamic rites at his residence. This came just as a 50-year-old man identified as Ashiru Aliyu was killed by gunmen in the early hours of Monday at Daulai Village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. It was gathered that many women were also abducted by the gunmen, who also rustled some domestic animals and looted foodstuff during the attack.
The gunmen were said to have arrived at the village about 1:00a.m. and started shooting sporadically. Also, the bandits killed a traditional title holder of Sarkin Tauri of Dandume town and kidnapped four other persons. The incident happened around 2:00a.m. on September 14.
One of the residents said the gunmen were about 30 in number. He added that some of the villagers had to escape into the bush and nearby communities.
MEANWHILE, operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested three different deadly syndicates that have been allegedly kidnapping and killing their victims in the South West zone.
The kidnappers, it was said, recently abducted a serving female police inspector and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ogun State and collected ransom before setting them free. The gang also shot dead a cattle dealer and a driver.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, AIG Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the suspects, said: “When I received information on the marauders, I directed my monitoring/tactical unit to ensure they track down the heinous perpetrators, of which six of them who operated in three different groups, were nabbed.
“It was later discovered the criminals mounted a roadblock on Ayetoro-Abeokuta Road in the Yewa area of Ogun State during which the female police inspector ran into them on May 4. While they were manhandling her, the driver of a car coming behind attempted to escape their onslaught, but had to pay with his dear life.
“The heartless animals in human skin targeted the driver and opened fire on him. Thereafter, the other female occupant of the vehicle was kidnapped alongside the police inspector. They were taken into the forest for three days before releasing them after payment of ransom by their relatives.
“The gang also shot dead Alhaji Oro, a cattle rearer, who was kidnapped on his way to the farm in Eggua. He was held for four days. Despite the payment of N4 million ransom, the boys shot him dead. We recovered six sophisticated rifles, including AK-49, pump action guns and ammunition.
“The gangs used to operate in a guerilla style. They would strike and run far into the bush and resurface. They have been terrorising Southwest zone. These are killers who had the penchant for killing their victims even after collecting ransom. They would go for the passengers and motorists’ jugular, but we have been able to end their reign.”
In another development, Iliyasu said the command had arrested a suspected fraudster, Sylvester, who allegedly defrauded a United States-based Nigerian lady of millions of dollars.
“Our Zonal Tactical/Monitoring Unit went after the suspect. We recovered four Sienna buses, a Toyota Highlander SUV, and landed properties, comprising a storey building and an undeveloped plot in the Wuse area of Abuja, all belonging to the victim.
“Yet to be recovered from him are a Mikano generating set, two duplexes in South Africa, the sum of $15,000 he allegedly defrauded the victim to procure visa for the victim’s sister, another $10,000 he proposed to purchase carpets for an office they both agreed to operate and N40 million for the establishment of a medical laboratory.”