Two kidnap suspects, Umar Adamu a.k.a. Meagwua (21) and Idris Mustapha (35) arrested by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have revealed how their eight-man gang, led by one Isah Ibrahim (Danwasa), kidnapped three grandchildren of a Commissioner in Kaduna State, killed a pregnant pharmacist, Hanatu Rufai, and a professor’s son in different operations in the Northwest region of the country.
The suspects were alleged to be among those who attacked the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Training Centre, Zaria, where about eight persons were kidnapped.
According to the police, the gang stormed the centre with two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and five AK47 rifles which they used to wreak havoc before proceeding to a house behind Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), where they kidnapped the pregnant pharmacist and killed her for not walking fast.
It was gathered that the gang was responsible for the kidnap of an Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi professor, Alliu Mohammed, and the murder of his son during the operation.
A gang member identified as Aminu was said to have fired the shot that killed Prof. Mohammed’s son while others whisked the man into the bush and held him until N10 million ransom was paid.
It was learnt that they also kidnapped and murdered a vigilante member known as Japenti at Wusafa area, attacked the owner of Najiwa Filling Station and whisked away his wife and child until N18 million ransom was paid.
Giving details of some of the gang’s operations, Adamu, who claimed to be a herdsman, said Isah (at large) usually brought the guns they used for operations.
He denied being among those who went to the commissioner’s house to kidnap his grandchildren but admitted taking part in other operations.
According to him, the pregnant pharmacist was killed for being stubborn and refusing to walk fast, adding that Isah usually gave him and others resident in the city N2, 000 for transportation after each operation, and would contact them to come to the bush for their shares once ransom was paid.
He said: “I joined the gang last year. I was rearing cow. That was where I met Isah. He is also a cattle rearer. Isah brings guns to us. After the operation, they would give me and others N2,000 and tell us to go that they would call us when they collected the ransom.
“I don’t stay in the camp. I only go for operation with them. I refused to go to the bush because my father said he wanted to marry a wife for me and that I should not go to the bush. I did not participate in the kidnap of the commissioner’s grandchildren but I know they were three. It was Idris Mustapha that provided information about that particular operation.
“My job was to lead the gang out of the community after each kidnap operation, because I know the terrain. I never handled gun. I just showed them where to follow and how to locate where they parked their motorcycles.
“They usually parked their motorcycles at a distance and walk into the village. Sometimes they stormed the villages around 9 pm or 10:30 pm, depending on the terrain. So, when they pick victims, I show them the routes to follow to locate their motorcycles without being caught,” said Adamu.
Mustapha, a neighbour to the commissioner, claimed he was threatened by Isah to provide information on wealthy individuals and cattle owners or risk being killed.
He said he knew the gang through a friend of his called Dambaba, whose cousin, Isah, was the leader.
According to Mustapha, Dambaba sent his number to Isah, who called and requested that he should buy drugs for his cows and bring them to the bush.
“He sent N20, 000 first through one Bagobili that I should buy the drugs and bring them to the camp. But I said I would not do it. Isah threatened that he would come to town in the night, pack all our cows and kill me. I was scared, so I agreed.
“Bagobiri returned the money to me and I bought the drugs and gave him to take to Isah. He sent money two other times. The second time, it was N30,000 and the third was N25,000. He told me to buy cattle drugs and give to Bagobiri.
“The last one I bought, Isah said I should come to the camp to deliver the drugs myself. When I got there, I saw members of the gang all armed with AK47 rifles. They kept me there and Isah threatened me, saying that he asked me to do a job for him and I didn’t.
“He repeated that he had the right to come to town and kill me and make away with all our cows. He said if I didn’t want that to happen, I should cooperate with him. He gave me food and took me to the main road to return home.
“He told me to feed him with information about people who have money or cows in Zaria city. We were communicating on the phone. He sent one Idi and another person to me. They came and I pointed the commissioner’s house to them.
“The father of those children and I are close. The same Idi came in motorcycles to survey the place and went back. After some time, they came back to operate at night.
“The Commissioner was not at home; he was in Kaduna. They didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t go to the house after the kidnap, but their father came to my house.
“I greeted him but refused to go to their house. I refused to go because of the presence of security agents. I regret my action. I was given N10, 000 for the Commissioner’s grandchildren kidnap,” he confessed.
(The Nation)
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