By Monday Ijeh
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested a suspect for supplying logistics and illicit drugs to kidnappers.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
He said kidnappers did not rely on weapons and ransom alone, but also depended on a steady supply of illicit drugs and logistics to sustain their criminal activities.
Sanusi said that in a follow-up investigation into the kidnapping incident that occurred on July 8 in the Mpape area of Abuja, operatives of the command on July 10 trailed and arrested a suspect.
“During the course of investigations, the suspect was identified as a major supplier of hard drugs, logistics, and other illicit substances to the kidnappers who attacked Yellow House area in Mpape.
“Following his arrest, the suspect led us to three separate hideouts used by the kidnapping gang in Niger where some exhibits were recovered.”
The CP said the exhibit recovered were 225mg of tramadol, two wraps of white substance suspected to be cocaine, 500mg pack of cannabis pills and dried substance suspected to be cannabis sativa.
He said other exhibits recovered were 30 cards of 100mg tramadol, two bottles containing 500 tablets each of Embazol and two black bags containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Sanusi said one digital scale, two air pods, two ATM Cards, two bags, N250,000 cash and one AK-47 rifle.
In a similar investigation, the CP said operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit had rescued a kidnap victim in Karshi area of the FCT.
He said the rescue followed a distress call to the command on July 12 that suspected kidnappers had abducted a victim from Karshi area.
The CP said the suspects had abducted the victim after firing sporadically to create panic before fleeing the scene with the hostage.
“Upon receiving the report, I directed our Anti-Kidnapping Unit to immediately commence rescue operations.
“Acting swiftly, the team moved into the adjoining Waru hills where there are unconventional paths and routes linking the FCT to Nasarawa State, while simultaneously combing Karshi axis.
“The operation paid off on July 16 at approximately 12:45 am when the hostage was successfully rescued unharmed, without payment of ransom.’’
Sanusi said the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and had since been reunited with her family.
He said one painted makrov pistol, one dagger, military camouflage clothing and assorted charms were recovered during the rescue operation.
The CP said operatives of the command had four suspects who specialise in robbing commercial drivers, particularly Bolt and Uber drivers of their vehicles.
He said the suspects were arrested on July 7 by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following credible intelligence.
Sanusi said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects operated by posing as regular passengers, booking commercial vehicles through e-ride hailing platforms before attacking and dispossessing them of their vehicles and other valuables.
“The suspects were arrested with two vehicles, an ash-colored Toyota Rav 4 vehicle with registration number YAB 240 DL and a grey colored Honda Civic Vehicle, with Registration Number ABC 72 JP,” he said. (NAN)
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