No fewer than 12 suspects arrested for various crimes were paraded by the Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the suspects were paraded for crimes ranging from cultism, culpable homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, and banditry, among others.
The state Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Jos, pleaded with residents to inform security authorities about criminal activities around them to help effect arrest.
He said, “On the 6th of July 2023 at about 11:47 hours, the Laranto Divisional Crime Branch (DCB) while acting upon intelligence, raided the residence of one Ugoh Snu of Angwan Jarawa who is suspected to be the gang leader of the Black Axe cult group, a syndicate terrorising Jos North and its environs.
“The said suspect escaped through the roof of the house to an unknown destination.
“However, the following firearms were recovered from the house; six locally made pistols, ten 7.62mm live ammunition, twenty-one cartridges, thirteen 9mm short/two 9mm long, three mobile phones, five handbags, two pairs of shoes, three different banks ATM cards and other accessories.”
The CP, while speaking on foiling kidnapping said Stephen Paulinus a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to 130 Battalion Baga, Borno State, and Achem Akowe of Aradagun Badagry, Lagos State were robbed of their belongings and later kidnapped at Villa junction between NMDC and cemetery opposite sector 1 Headquarters, Jos by robbers armed with Locally made pistols.
He said the incident happened on 11th July 2023, at about 03:39 hours, one John Thomas of PW Jos, and that they drove in an ox-blood coloured Mazda Motor vehicle from Lagos to Jos.
His words, “The kidnappers while driving towards Mista Ali, sighted a Police Stop-and-Search checking point mounted by the Jengre Division Patrol Team; they therefore made a U-Turn and drove toward Gurum road.
“The Policemen and vigilante members swung into action and chased the suspicious vehicle. On sensing danger, the culprits abandoned the vehicle and escaped into the bushes.
As a result, all three victims were rescued unhurt while efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects”, he explained.
Speaking on the arrest of suspected bandits and recovery of ammunition, the CP said, “Information was received by the Bashar Division from one Mallam Mutaka, the village head of Safiyo village on 15th July 2023, at about 10:30 hours, that on the same date at about 02:00 hours, unknown gunmen attacked the house of one Alhaji Abashe a Fulani pastoralist of Rugan Abashe, Safiyo ward.
“As a result, one Umaru Abashe, 22 years old, of the same address was shot dead by the hoodlums while his brother, one Haruna Abashe, 25 years, of same address sustained gunshot wounds.
“The scene was visited by the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB) led by the DPO, CSP Atiku Yahaya. The corpse was photographed and released to the relations for burial as they declined post-mortem examination while the other victim was taken to Shukura Hospital, Dengi/Kanam LGA where he is currently responding to medical treatment.
“Exhibits recovered from the scene include three empty shells of live ammunition and two empty shells of pump action cartridges. Nothing was removed from the house by the assailants.
“On the strength of the above information however, the DPO swung into action and busted a suspected hideout in Sabon Layin Gaji forest in collaboration with the local VGN and hunters where we arrested one Ibrahim Haruna, 30 years old of Sabon Gaji village in connection with the offence.
“We recovered the following items from the hideout; one AK 47 rifle with breach No:11392 with 13 live ammunition of 7.62mm calibre and one Pump action with breach No.: 16-9185 with 17 live cartridges”, Onyeka explained.
He, however, assured that the investigation continues to unveil the motive behind the attack and arrest of more suspects.
“I will like to also at this juncture, thank the members of the press, for always ensuring that the good people of Plateau State are properly and accurately informed.”
According to him, “This has been especially instrumental to the furtherance and maintenance of peace in the state. I urge you to keep up the good work.
“To all the Area Commanders, PMF Commanders, Tactical Team Commanders, DPOs, officers and men of the Command, your continued commitment to the business of security in the state is commendable. I, therefore, encourage you to continue to do more.”