By Agabus Pwanagba The Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday paraded twelve suspects for crimes ranging from cultism, culpable h...
By Agabus Pwanagba
The Plateau State Police Command on Wednesday paraded twelve
suspects for crimes ranging from cultism, culpable homicide, kidnapping, armed
robbery, and banditry, among others.
Parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in the
State Capital, the CP, Bartholomew Onyeka urged residents to always avail
valuable information to security agencies to aid them in arresting criminals.
He said, “On the 6th of July 2023 at about 11:47 hours, the
Laranto Divisional Crime Branch (DCB) while acting upon intelligence, raided
the residence of one Ugoh Snu of Angwan Jarawa who is suspected to be the gang
leader of the Black Axe cult group, a syndicate terrorising Jos North and its
environs.
“The said suspect escaped through the roof of the house to
an unknown destination.
“However, the following firearms were recovered from the
house; six locally made pistols, ten 7.62mm live ammunition, twenty-one
cartridges, thirteen 9mm short/two 9mm long, three mobile phones, five
handbags, two pairs of shoes, three different banks ATM cards and other
accessories”, he explained.
On foiling of kidnapping, Onyeka said, “On 11th July 2023,
at about 03:39 hours, one John Thomas of PW Jos, Stephen Paulinus a Lance
Corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to 130 Battalion Baga, Borno State, and
Achem Akowe of Aradagun Badagry, Lagos State were robbed of their belongings
and later kidnapped at Villa junction between NMDC and cemetery opposite sector
1 Headquarters, Jos by robbers armed with Locally made pistols and other
dangerous weapons while in an ox-blood coloured Mazda Motor vehicle, driven
from Lagos to Jos.
“The kidnappers while driving towards Mista Ali, sighted a
Police Stop-and-Search checking point mounted by the Jengre Division Patrol
Team; they therefore made a U-Turn and drove toward Gurum road.
“The Policemen and vigilante members swung into action and
chased the suspicious vehicle. On sensing danger, the culprits abandoned the
vehicle and escaped into the bushes.
As a result, all three victims were rescued unhurt while
efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects”, he explained.
Speaking on the arrest of suspected bandits and recovery of
ammunition, the CP said, “Information was received by the Bashar Division from
one Mallam Mutaka, the village head of Safiyo village on 15th July 2023, at
about 10:30 hours, that on the same date at about 02:00 hours, unknown gunmen
attacked the house of one Alhaji Abashe a Fulani pastoralist of Rugan Abashe,
Safiyo ward.
According to him, “As a result, one Umaru Abashe, 22 years
old, of the same address was shot dead by the hoodlums while his brother, one
Haruna Abashe, 25 years, of same address sustained gunshot wounds.
“The scene was visited by the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB)
led by the DPO, CSP Atiku Yahaya. The corpse was photographed and released to
the relations for burial as they declined post-mortem examination while the
other victim was taken to Shukura Hospital, Dengi/Kanam LGA where he is
currently responding to medical treatment.
“Exhibits recovered from the scene include three empty
shells of live ammunition and two empty shells of pump action cartridges.
Nothing was removed from the house by the assailants.
“On the strength of the above information however, the DPO
swung into action and busted a suspected hideout in Sabon Layin Gaji forest in
collaboration with the local VGN and hunters where we arrested one Ibrahim
Haruna, 30 years old of Sabon Gaji village in connection with the offence.
“We recovered the following items from the hideout; one AK
47 rifle with breach No:11392 with 13 live ammunition of 7.62mm calibre and one
Pump action with breach No.: 16-9185 with 17 live cartridges”, Onyeka
explained.
He, however, assured that the investigation continues to
unveil the motive behind the attack and arrest of more suspects.
“I will like to also at this juncture, thank the members of
the press, for always ensuring that the good people of Plateau State are
properly and accurately informed.
According to him, “This has been especially instrumental to
the furtherance and maintenance of peace in the state. I urge you to keep up
the good work.
“To all the Area Commanders, PMF Commanders, Tactical Team
Commanders, DPOs, officers and men of the Command, your continued commitment to
the business of security in the state is commendable. I, therefore, encourage
you to continue to do more”, the CP admonished.
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