Suleiman Garba, a self-confessed kidnapper from Nanga community in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, has revealed how he and his fugitive colleague, Adamu, gathered N1 million from their victim to thwart their plan to abduct him.
Currently under police custody, Garba expressed regret for his actions and asked for forgiveness, claiming to be a first-time offender and hoping that his fugitive colleague would be apprehended.
He made the confession on Friday at the Police Headquarters in Jos when the State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina paraded him alongside other suspects who allegedly committed crimes.
His words, “I agree that we did it, we called and collected the money. I was called into it by Adamu and we collected the money together but he is on the run. What I did was bad, I am sorry, this is my first time, I only fell for it and I am praying that by the grace of God, Adamu will be arrested.”
CP Adesina revealed that the suspects, including those involved in the killings in some communities in the state, were charged with a number of crimes, including criminal conspiracy, cultism, defilement, and culpable homicide.
According to him, “On 19/04/2024 at about 4 pm, we received a report at the Bokkos Divisional Headquarters that on the same date at about 2 pm, one Damla Mallan, Maju Philemon, and Mandic Daniel, all males from Tenti, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, while on their way to the farm at Gawarza village in Bokkos Local Government Area, developed a mechanical fault. Consequently, they stopped and attempted to repair it when suddenly; a number of armed hoodlums unexpectedly opened fire on them and shot one Damla Mallan.
“After receiving the report, police detectives from the Bokkos Division rushed to the scene, where the victim’s lifeless body lay motionless. They rushed him to Cottage Hospital Bokkos, where he was transferred to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); he died on the way.
“The police action later resulted in the arrest of the following suspects: one Sani Mohammed male, Buhari Mamuda male, and Haruna Abdullahi, male, who was indicted by one Rebecca Danjuma on a dying declaration in relation to the 24/12/2023 attack on Bokkos LGA and was also mentioned by a kingpin, one Jibrin Musa Goje, who was paraded by the Force PRO as his co-conspirator in a crime.
“On April 21, 2024, around 2:00 PM, two men named Hassan Abdullahi and Mohammed Sani blocked the road in an attempt to attack the mourners as they returned to their respective homes. The people of Gawarza and Chirang villages had just finished burying the body. Both suspects have been arrested. The case is being investigated at the State CID Jos and will be charged in court once our investigations are complete.”
On the kidnapping incident, he added, “Following the payment of the sum of N1, 000,000 to an unknown caller by a complainant who was threatened to pay the money in order to avoid being kidnapped, the complainant reported the incident to Gindiri Divisional Headquarters, and an investigation commenced immediately.
“The anonymous caller was tracked down using his GSM number and eventually arrested by Gindiri Police operatives in connection with the reported incident. During interrogation, the suspect, Suleiman Adamu Garba’m’ of Nanga Gindiri, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, confessed voluntarily to having committed the offense with one Adamu Langai, who is still at large. Efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect are underway.”