BY MAIRIGA Juliana, Minna
The Police in Niger state paraded two suspects who are members of a four man kidnapping syndicate that specialized in kidnapping students of Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna and also rescued three students already in the kidnappers’ den.
The suspects said to have been terrorizing students of the citadel in recent time included, 30 year old Abraham Jatto from Edo state and his partner in crime, Idowu Mafe, 29 from Ogun state it was learnt has been on the wanted list of the police before now.
Nemesis however caught up with the suspects who were said to belong to a syndicate that had been terrorizing the student community as were rounded up from their hideout around, Sauka-kahuta area of Minna metropolis by the state police command’s Special Anti-kidnapping Squad.
The kidnapping syndicate, it was gathered from their hideout monitor the FUT students, especially new intakes, under graduates others residence within the environs who are relatively new to the environments are mostly victims of the gang.
The gas at many times for some time now as checks revealed that the suspects who specialize in kidnapping undergraduate students and demanding for ransom from their parents before letting them go.
Also have two members of their gang that police operatives are looking for.
Victims of the kidnappers according to our correspondent’s findings were kidnapped in different locations in Minna metropolis and they are mostly and often disposed of their personal valuables such as laptops, handsets, jewelries and money.
One of the victims, 24 years Miss Esther Okwe, of the Department of Estate Management, 500 level, of the institution narrated how her parents was forced to cough out N500, 000 (Fiver hundred thousand) Naira to buy her freedom from the criminals.
Two other students who have also encountered the gang; Agbo Sylvanus 24, another victim of the kidnappers, of the Department of Mathematics, 500 level and Peter Adown, 21, of Micro Biology Department, 400 level FUT, Minna also has bitter tales of the gang.
Speaking amidst subs, one of the suspects, Mafe who claimed to be a graduate of University of Ilorin said he regretted involving himself in this inhuman act that has brought shame not only to himself but to his family.
“When the issue of getting Dubai job came up, my parents could not afford the amount (N750, 000) they were demanding from us and Abraham raised the issue of kidnapping which led us to this predicament”, he explained.
According to him, “I have dragged my good family name to the mud. Honestly I must confess, I have a good upbringing, I can’t even factor what led me to this heinous and shameful act, I pray that my parents will find a place in their hearts to forgive me”.
While pleading for mercy as he is ready to turn a new leaf, Mafe said, “If am able to come out of this mess I will dedicate my life in fighting crime to standstill in Nigeria, I am extremely ashamed of myself and promise not to ever go back to it again”.
Another suspect, Jatto said he decided to go into kidnapping business just to raise money to secure a job offer in Dubai. “I have rented two bedroom apartments at the back of Niger state trade fair complex to keep those kidnapped without my neighbors knowing about it”.
Jatto a graduate of Edo state university however said regretted his actions, saying, “I was a successful business man who never depended on people for assistant, in-fact I cannot explain how I started this kidnapping people.”
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger state command, Bala Elkana confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of one Honda Accord ash coloured car with Abuja registration number, ABJ 583 AE used by the suspects in kidnapping their victims.
“Investigations was going on, the suspects would be arraigned in court soon”, Elkanah said as he assured that the command was fast closing in on the remaining members of the gang who are now on the run
“We are getting closer to getting the remaining two persons, they can run away but we will get them and bring them to book”, the PPRO said when asked what the police is doing to arrest two remaining members of the gang”,
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