TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says 84 suspects have been arrested across the country within one month for terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities.

Frank Mba, police spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that officers also foiled an attempted to kidnap a Catholic bishop in Kaduna.

Mba said the arrest followed the ongoing implementation of a robust security action plan to protect citizens and critical national infrastructure across the country.

Firearms and other items said to have been used by the suspects were also seized by the police.

“The suspects were arrested for their involvement in a series of violent crimes including terrorism, banditry, kidnap for ransom, possession and proliferation of illegal weapons, armed robbery, unlawful production of vehicle number plates etc,” the statement reads.

“While many of the suspects were arrested in follow-up on cases of violent crimes under investigations, many others were arrested after being subdued following a gun duel with the police who took the battle to the doorsteps of the criminals.

“Notable amongst the cases is the arrest of four (4) members of a notorious criminal gang responsible for carrying out some of the high-profile kidnap for ransom operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Bauchi, and Plateau States.

“The suspects are Umar Abdullahi ‘m’ 40yrs of Kali Kura village, Giwa LGA, Kaduna State; Yusuf Tanimu ‘m’ 23yrs of Kurena, Zaria, Kaduna State; Mamuda Suleiman ‘m’ 40yrs of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, and Abubakar Yaro ‘m’ 38yrs from Wase village, Plateau State.

“Investigations revealed that the gang are linked to series of kidnap for ransom crimes, including the kidnapping of some senior staff of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, family members of notable political appointees and business entrepreneurs in Kaduna State and other contiguous State.”

The police said the investigation revealed that the suspects were at an advanced stage of carrying out a plan to kidnap a Catholic bishop in Zaria, when they were apprehended.

Investigation, according to the police, further revealed that the gang, in addition to their kidnapping enterprise, also supplies arms and ammunition to bandits in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina and Zamfara states.

Mba also said the police arrested a seven-man criminal syndicate that specialises in the manufacturing and supply of locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and ammunition to bandits in forests along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and Funtua-Kankara expressway in Katsina.

Three other suspects, alleged to be responsible for the production of fake vehicle number plates — including those of government, diplomatic and security agencies — were also arrested.

The police said the investigation revealed that the suspects supply the number plates to criminal elements who use the same to beat security checks during their operations.

All the suspects, according to the police, will be charged to court on completion of investigations.

Earlier, the police had said it arrested over 1,000 high-profile suspects in one month.