Odita Sunday 
Police dismantle kidnap syndicate, recover AK-47, ammunition, livestock in FCT-Nasarawa operation
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a suspected kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of abductions and killings along communities bordering the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad arrested two suspected members of the gang during intelligence-led operations conducted between June 24 and 26.
The suspects, identified as Buhari Adamu, 25, and Abubakar Saidu, 28, were arrested during coordinated operations in Gbagalape in the FCT, Mararaba in Nasarawa State and Abuja.
According to the police, preliminary investigations linked the suspects to the May 16 attack on Gbagalape Community, a border settlement between the FCT and Nasarawa State, where several residents were abducted, while others were killed or sustained gunshot injuries.
The police also alleged that some of the abducted victims were later killed after ransom demands were made.
Following the arrests, operatives raided the gang’s hideout at Gbagalape Hills, where they recovered one AK-47 rifle, 22 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 14 cows and three sheep suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities.
The statement said the suspects had made useful statements that were assisting investigators, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate still at large.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining intelligence-led operations against violent criminal networks across the country.
Disu commended the operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad for what he described as their professionalism and resilience in the operation.
He also urged members of the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to aid crime prevention, investigation and the arrest of criminal suspects.
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