The Yobe State Police Command has successfully dismantled a kidnapping syndicate and rescued a 40-year-old woman from their clutches, with the arrest of the gang’s leader, Barum Alh Makau, and an accomplice.
This operation took place in Fune Local Government Area of the state just one day after the woman and her 25-year-old son were abducted.
According to the spokesperson of the command, Dungus Abdulkarim, the kidnappers initially released the son and then demanded a hefty ransom of N7 million for the release of the woman. He stated,
“During the week under review, Police operatives from the Damagun Divisional Police Headquarters cracked a kidnapping syndicate that operates between Potiskum, Fune, and Nangere LGAs and led to the arrest of the kingpin and one other associate, namely: Barum Alh Makau, 40-year-old, of Ashawa via Kyari Village and Rufai Alh Labe, 27-year-old, of Dadin Kowa Horon Garim Gombe State.”
“The kidnappers were apprehended a day after abducting their victims, a 40-year-old woman and her son, 25, at Gelel Village under Fune LGA,”
Abdulkarim explained,
“The culprits, a gang of four, after a moment of abducting their victims, later released the son and gave him a piece of ammunition, a 7.62mm calibre AK-47 rifle, to give to his uncle to spare his life or be killed. They also conveyed the ransom demands: N7,000,000.00 (Seven Million Naira) for his mother and N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) to be paid as soon as possible.”
“Meanwhile, they took the mother to a nearby farm in Ashawa Village where she was kept hostage in a grass hut in the middle of the farm, blindfolded and tightly bound with heavy metal chains in both hands and legs.”
The apprehension of the kidnappers was made possible thanks to credible information and swift action by Police Operatives. While some members of the syndicate managed to flee, the Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, expressed confidence in capturing the fleeing members in no time, as police detectives were actively pursuing them.
“However, discreet Investigation is currently ongoing at the state CID where weapons used in the perpetration of the crime, including five live ammunition, pump action guns, one single live ammunition 7.62 mm of AK47 rifle, cutlass, bow, arrow, and locally made bulletproof jackets were recovered,” added Abdulkarim.
| LIB
