…FCT Police Commissioner Tunji Disu Leads Successful Operation Against Notorious Kidnapping Gang
A bandit arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Abdulrahman Adamu, has confessed that he used his share of ransom money from kidnapping victims to fund a lifestyle of drinking and womanizing. Adamu is one of eight suspects paraded on Monday by FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, in connection with several kidnapping operations in the FCT, Kaduna, and Niger states.
Disu listed the arrested suspects as Abdulrahman Giwa, Baba Hassan, Mohammed Dahiru, Abubakar Bature, alias Dayi, Abubakar Kadiri, alias Dare, and Kabiru Ibrahim. Others include Ya’u Adamu and Hussani Ori, also known as Mugu.
According to the Commissioner, the suspects were part of a larger kidnapping and banditry gang led by a man known only as Mallam, who was killed along with eight others in a recent shootout with the police. Disu stated, “All suspects are members of a kidnapping and banditry gang led by one Mallam, now deceased. During operations targeting their strongholds in the Kweri and Gauraka forests, Mallam and eight other suspects were neutralized after an intense exchange of gunfire. Unfortunately, two of our operatives sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment.”
Disu further revealed that intelligence had indicated the gang used several forests across Kaduna, Niger, and the FCT to hold their hostages, including the Gidan Dogo Forest in Kaduna, Gauraka Forest in Niger, and the Kweri and Kachia Forests in Kaduna.
Several firearms and ammunition were recovered during the operation, including three AK-47 rifles, 100 rounds of live 7.62 ammunition, and 10 AK-47 magazines. Disu added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang and recover more arms and ammunition.
In an interview with journalists, Abdulrahman Adamu admitted to making a significant amount of money from kidnapping, including N600,000 from the last operation before his arrest. He confessed, “I joined the gang through one of my friends, who is now dead. We kidnapped people for ransom. My boss, who is now dead, gave me orders to kill some of the victims. In the last operation, I made over N600,000.”
When asked what he spent the money on, Adamu revealed, “I used my money to drink and carry women. I used it to womanize and drink.”
The police have continued their efforts to track down the remaining members of the gang, with the FCT Police Command reaffirming its commitment to tackling banditry and kidnapping in the region.