TheCable

The police have rearrested Hamisu Wadume, suspected kidnap kingpin whose initial arrest led to the killing of three policemen and a civilian in Taraba state.

Some soldiers had opened fire on policemen who had earlier arrested Wadume in Ibi, Taraba, over “high-profile kidnap incidents in the state”.

In a statement, Frank Mba, spokesman of the force, said Wadume was re-arrested at his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano state.

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni, while commending the police operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts, has expressed his profound gratitude to all Nigerians for their unparalleled show of love and empathy to the Force and the families of the officers and patriotic civilians who paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland,” he said.

“It is his belief that the re-arrest of the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, will no doubt, help in bringing answers to the numerous but hitherto unanswered questions touching on the incident and the larger criminal enterprise of the suspect.”

Although the Nigerian army said the soldiers who shot the police officers and freed the suspect mistook them as kidnappers, the police insisted the incident was pre-meditated.

While the defence headquarters set up a panel to investigate the incident, the police began a manhunt for the suspect.