The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate accused of collecting ₦14 million in ransom after abducting 10 victims along the Tegina-Makera road.
The suspects were identified as 23-year-old Aliyu Muhammad Bodo of Dutsen-gogo via Babana, New Bussa, and 22-year-old Tukur Hassan Ali of Bode-Saadu, Kwara State.
They were arrested on August 14 during a joint security operation at a forest around Tanangi village, via Kasanga in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. The operation, carried out by security personnel and local vigilantes following a kidnapping incident in the area, also resulted in the rescue of six victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 Android phones belonging to the victims, five keypad phones, a NIN slip, a brown bag and ₦1,045,200 were recovered from the suspects.
Abiodun said the recovered money was allegedly the suspects’ share of the ransom collected from the victims.
According to the police spokesman, the suspects confessed during interrogation to working with other members of the gang identified as Smallie, Tashaka, Dan-Sarki and Turo, who are still at large.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that the gang abducted 10 people along the Tegina-Makera road and received ₦14 million as ransom.
They also reportedly revealed that the group had one AK-47 rifle and three pump-action rifles, allegedly kept by their accomplices and used during kidnapping operations.
Abiodun added that some of the rescued victims later identified the suspects during an identification parade held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna.
The command said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued, particularly efforts to arrest the other members of the alleged syndicate.
The police said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.