Police nab suspected criminals, rescue nine children in Kano

The Kano State Police command has arrested several suspects for various crimes in the state before, during and after the independent day celebrations and rescued nine abducted children.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu, who made the disclosure in Kano, yesterday, while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters, said the suspects were arrested for crimes including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, armed robbery, car theft and attempted homicide, among others.

He said on September 12, the Command’s team of Operation Puff Adder attached to the anti-kidnapping squad were detailed and arrested Paul Onwe, 37; Mercy Paul, 38; Emmanuel Igwe, 34; Ebere Ogbodo, 45; Louis Duru, 30 and Monica Oracha, 50, while trying to take one of the kidnapped victim, Haruna Bako, to Anambra State.

“The victim was kidnapped on September 11 on his way back from Islamiyya School at Yankaba Quarters Kano.”

He disclosed that Paul and his wife, who live in Yankaba quarters, masterminded the heinous crime with four others based in Anambra State to sell the children to potential buyers.

On the rescue of Abubakar, the Police chief said the syndicate was tracked down to Ningi in Bauchi State, where the operatives successful rescued the child and arrested the suspect.

Parading 22-year-0ld Na’Ali, the neighbour who masterminded the kidnap of Abubakar, the Police boss narrated that operatives took over negotiations with the kidnappers, who demanded for N160, 000, with intent of tracking the criminal.

The operatives, who disguised as parents of the child, took the ransom to the kidnappers hideout at the School of Health Technology in Ningi, where they made the payment and left.

He explained that the suspects would be charged to court after thorough investigation

He noted that the eight abducted children were rescued in Anambra State from the hands of the buyers, saying: “The children include Umar Ibrahim, 10, renamed as Onyedika Ogbodo; Aisha Mohammed Abdullahi, nine, renamed as Ozioma Ogbodo; Usman Mohammed, five: Amira Auwalu, four; Husna Salisu, four; Blessing Ogbodo, 10 and Chiemerie Ogbodo, six.

He said the suspects had confessed to having conspired and kidnapped the children from different areas, such as Sauna, Kwanar Jaba, Kawo, Hotoro, Yankaba and Dakata quarters, all within the metropolis.

Iliyasu said on September 25, about 10p.m, a report of organised kidnapping was reported by one Bukar Rabiu of Medile Quarters in Kano that his son, Abubakar, two, was kidnapped.

“The Command raised a tactical team of Operation Puff Adder and arrested one Buhari Na’ali, 22, a neighbour to the complainant in Bauchi State, and the victim was rescued.”

He said Na’ali confessed to have conspired with Ibrahim Ahmed, 20, and Mubarak Gidare, 23.