The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has assured
Nigerians of improved security in the year 2021, a statement from the
Force Spokesman, DCP, Frank Mba, has said.
The IGP stressed that the Force will be unrelenting in the fight against
all forms of crimes especially kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry,
cultism, cybercrime, Sexual/Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), amongst others
in the country in the year 2021.
The IGP assured that the NPF will implement aggressive, proactive,
intelligence-driven and community-based crime fighting strategies in its
quests to make the country safer.
He promised the Force will take the battle to the door steps of the
criminals and also expand its collaboration with the citizens and other
Law Enforcement Agencies in its bid to flush out criminal elements in
the country.
The IGP, while reviewing the scorecard of police operations at the Force
CID and Force Intelligence Bureau, revealed that a total of 21,296
criminal suspects involved in various violent crimes, were arrested and
3,347 firearms, 133,496 ammunition and 960 stolen vehicles recovered.
Also, 1,002 kidnap victims were safely rescued from their abductors and
reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, in a renewed commitment by the Force to advance the gains
recorded in the fight against crimes in the country, particularly in the
out gone year 2020, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested
eighteen (18) criminal suspects for offences of armed robbery,
kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes. Eight (8) AK47
rifles, One (1) SMG sterling gun, 236 AK47 Ammunition, 12 pieces of SMG
sterling gun ammunition, Two (2) Toyota Camry Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014
models (already released to the owners), were recovered from them.
Notable among the arrests, is the arrest of one Abubakar Umaru a.k.a
Buba Bargu, ‘m’, 35 years, native of Kato Shiroro area of Niger State by
the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS). Investigations by
Police Team revealed that, Abubakar is a member and armourer of a gang
that has carried out several kidnap for ransom operations along
Lokoja-Abuja/Abuja –Kaduna highways and other major highways in the
North-Central States of the country.
Interestingly, this group carried out the abduction of one Mohammed
Ahmadu a.k.a CONFIRM ‘m’, 30 years, a kidnap kingpin and leader of
another notorious kidnapping group in the North-Central when he came to
their hideout in the forest to sell live ammunition to the group. He was
held and shot in the hand until his gang members paid a ransom of One
Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-five Thousand Naira (N1,555,000.00) only
for his release. Five (5) AK47 rifles, five (5) magazines and 120 rounds
of AK47 ammunition were recovered from Abubakar Umaru at his hideout in
the Forest.
Similarly, Police operatives arrested five (5) members of an armed
robbery syndicate who have their criminal network and base spread across
Edo, Delta, Ondo and Lagos States. The suspects namely; Godspower Ebogie
‘m’, Samede Miracle ‘m’, Efosa Rowland a.k.a Double ‘m’, Michael Ifeanyi
Egwuatu ‘m’ and Ifeanyi Ewurum a.k.a Rati ‘m’ were arrested at various
locations and linked to several cases of armed robbery and car snatching
at gunpoint under investigations by the Police. Two (2) Toyota Camry
Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014 models, robbed from one Mr. Osayuwamen
Isokpan and Mr Harrison Eribo on 26/6/2020 and 5/7/2020 respectively in
Benin, Edo State were recovered from the gang.
Meanwhile, the IGP has commended the Police Teams for their dedication
to duties which resulted in the successes recorded. While appreciating
the citizens for their support so far, the IGP calls for improved
partnership and collaboration between the citizens and the Police
particularly in the area of providing useful information the Police
require in tackling crimes and apprehending unrepentant criminals in the
country.
All the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of
investigations.