masterminded the kidnap of the UBEC Chairman along Abuja- Kaduna road is
dead, according to a statement signed by Frank Mba, Force Headquarters
Public Relations Officer.
The suspect, one Sumaila Sule, alias SHAHO, male (estimated be in his
mid thirties), a native of Rijana village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state
is one of the most vicious and most wanted kidnappers that has been
terrorizing citizens in Kaduna and its environs.
He died in the early hours of 18th May, 2019 following multiple bullet
wounds he sustained during a deadly shootout with police operatives
attached to Operation Puff Adder.
The shootout took place in the evening of 17th May 2019, at the
outskirts of Rijana village. The police operatives, in line with the
mandate of Operation Puff Adder, were carrying out routine surveillance
and raid of suspected criminal hide-outs, when they suddenly came under
gun fire attack from a heavily armed criminal gang. The police team
fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and eventually bringing
SHAHO down, whilst his gang members fled. SHAHO was rushed to hospital,
where he eventually died the next day.
Meanwhile, acting on information elicited from the suspect before his
death, police operatives, between the 18th and 19th of May 2019, carried
out sweeping follow-up operations at different target locations. These
coordinated operations led to the arrest of four other members of
SHAHO’s gang and the recovery of three (3) AK 47 rifles. The arrested
gang members include: MUSA Hassan 26yrs, Yau Umar 25yrs, Umar MUSA
22yrs and Muhammad SANI 28yrs , all males and natives of Rijiana Village
Kachia LGA Kaduna State. SHAHO and his gang members have been on the
radar of the intelligence community for a while, as they have been
implicated in several high level kidnappings and other heinous crimes
along Kaduna-Abuja road and beyond.
In a similar vein, a combined team of Operation Puff Adder operatives,
comprising of the IGP Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit,
the Police Mobile Force and the Special Anti Robbery Squad have arrested
another set of kidnappers who have been terrorizing citizens at Mubi
axis of Adamawa state. One AK 47 rifle and twenty six (26) rounds of
live ammunition were recovered from the gang.
The suspects arrested are: Umaru Ibrahim native of Yadi Buni, Yobe
State ; Abdul Maina native of Maiha Adamawa State and Mohammed Abubakar
native of Buni Yadi Yobe State. The suspects have all confessed to
participating in numerous kidnapping and armed robbery operations within
Adamawa State, including the kidnap and collection of a ransom of seven
million naira from one Mallam Abdulahi Umoru of Hong L.G.A.
Investigations into these cases are on-going, while efforts aimed at
arresting other members of the gangs still at large are being
intensified.
While commending police operatives for their gallantry, as well as
selfless service to the nation and humanity, the Inspector General of
Police, IGP M.A Adamu NPM, mni has reassured Nigerians that the war
against crimes and criminality will soon be won. The IGP called for
continuous support for the police and other law enforcement agencies,
promising that the security agencies will not rest on their oars till
normalcy is restored in every part of Nigeria.