TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has paraded eight suspects allegedly linked to the kidnap and murder of Defwan Dariye, father of Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau state. 

Fran Mba, police spokesman, stated this on Wednesday during a media briefing in Abuja.

Defwan was abducted in June 2020, after gunmen attacked his house at Bokkos LGA of the Plateau state.

Mba said Defwan was killed after the sum of N10 million was paid as ransom.

According to the force spokesperson, the suspected perpetrators were arrested following operations by the police intelligence response unit and other investigators.

He alleged that the crime was masterminded by one of the suspects, who mobilised others to execute the act.

“Within the last 30 days, the police were able to make tremendous progress that led to the arrest of the eight key suspects that played major roles in the kidnap and murder of the ex-governor’s father,” he said.

“All the suspects, except very few of them, are from the same village in Bokkos Local Government Area with the murdered victim.

“This perhaps explained why they took the very wicked and costly decision of murdering the old man.”

In another case, Mba said three suspects were arrested on August 28 in a border community between Nasarawa and Taraba, after months of investigations by operatives of the intelligence response team.

The police spokesman said the suspects were arrested over unlawful dealing in weapons to aid “criminals, kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and armed robbers”.

He said weapons, including 26 AK-47 magazines, one AK-49 rifle and  magazines, and 14 live ammunition for AK-47 rifle, were recovered from the suspects.

Mba added that the suspects would be charged to court soon.