The police on Monday paraded two men said to be members of an armed gang terrorizing Kogi State.
The
police said the suspects have confessed to being provided weapons and
financial support by Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West in the
National Assembly.
One of
the suspects confessed that Mr. Melaye told him that “they should start
working for the Senator as his Political Thugs and they should recruit
and train more other thugs to work for him in preparation toward 2019
General election to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his
political opponents and disorganize Kogi State.”
Recall
that there has been an ongoing political crisis that has seen Mr.
Melaye and Governor Yahaya Bello enmeshed in bitter confrontations over
the state’s political structure.
The
suspects also confessed to belonging to the gang of a dreaded and
vicious kidnap for ransom gang under a gang leader (name withheld) whose
whereabout is being investigated by the Force.
A statement by police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood identified the suspects as Kabiru Saidu and Nuru Salisu.
Below is the full statement:
1. KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” From Dekina LGA but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang)
2. NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL “25 YRS” (a member of the gang )
EXHIBITS
I. Two (2) AK47 Rifles
II. Five (5) Pump Action Guns
III. Two (2) Locally made Pistol with one using AK47 Ammunition
IV. hip of charms
The
Crime prevention and control strategies adopted by the Nigeria police
Force throughout the country in the recent time to reduce violent crimes
and other criminality are yielding positive results
2.
Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command
personnel and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested
the two suspects listed above after a gun battle with the Police team
that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 atOgojueje in
Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. During investigation, they
confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of
several kidnappings and Armed Robbery in different towns across Kogi
State and its environs for which they have been on the wanted list of
the Police for more than two years now.
3.
During interrogation, they further confessed they were Political Thugs
recruited by some mischievous Politicians in Kogi State to cause mayhem,
and disruption of peace, and destruction of lives and property in the
State. They also confessed to belonged to the gang of a dreaded and
vicious kidnap for ransom gang under a gang leader (name withheld) whose
where about is being investigated by the Force. The two suspects were
identified by some of their victims.
4.
According to the gang leader KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” he has
been working as a Political Thug for one Alh. Mohammed Audu a Politician
in the State. They said Alh. Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and
introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road,
Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in the month of December,
2017. The suspect further confessed that, Sen. Dino Melaye told him that
they should start working for the Senator as his Political Thugs and
they should recruit and train more other thugs to work for him in
preparation toward 2019 General election to enable him ( Sen. Dino
Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganized Kogi State.
5. The
gang leader KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” further confessed to the
Police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag
containing the following firearms one (1) AK47 rifle, two (2) Pump
Action guns and the sum of four hundred and thirty thousand naira
N430,000.00 to share with his boys.
6.
Consequent on the indictments and criminal confessions against Senator
Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS”
Nigeria Police Force, wrote a letter dated 2nd of March, 2018 addressed
to the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria informing and
requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye to report to Commissioner
of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer to
criminal offences levelled against him, to enable the Police carry out a
discreet investigation into the confessions of the principal suspect
against Senator Dino Melaye. But Senator Dino Melaye have refused to
honour the Police invitation till date.
7. A
case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited
firearms have therefore been filed by the Nigeria Police Force at
Federal High Court Lokoja on 16thMarch, 2018 against the two suspects
mentioned above, Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu who is also a
suspect in the matter and is now on the run.
8.
The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustain the tempo
of the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country
and guarantee protection of Lives and Property remains unequivocal and
unwavering.
0 comments:
Post a Comment