Police Rescue 14 Kidnapped Victims, Arrest  Four in Niger

Laleye Dipo in Minna

In different operations carried out in bandits-prone Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, the police yesterday said it rescued 14 kidnapped victims and arrested four suspected kidnappers.

The suspects were said to have been apprehended as they led their victims into the forest around Mangoro village of Munya Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement made available to newsmen in Minna at the weekend, the state police command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said: “The joint security team intercepted the hoodlums, engaged them in a gun battle,” leading to the rescue of eight of the victims.

 Abiodun said in another operation, the police tactical team attached to Zungeru Division and local vigilantes members mobilised to the hideout of the bandits “engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel” saying three victims, two males and one female were rescued unhurt.

 He added that the suspected kidnappers were believed to be behind the murder of one Nuhu Yakubu of Maikunkele town near Minna after the deceased was kidnapped.

The police spokesman said the deceased was declared missing for three days before the police discovered his decomposing body in a bush around Gusasse

He said after painstaking investigation by the police crack team, the four suspects – Aminu Dada, Umar Sule, Mamman Abubakar, and Shehu Abubakar, were arrested in connection with the crime.

He said 81 cows and 42 sheep were recovered from the suspects who confessed to committing the crime

The police spokesman noted that the suspects would be charged to court soon.