By Jude Atupulazi
The Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Department Tactical Team-DFI-IRT and DFI-STS have arrested 67 suspects for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, gunrunning, one-chance, armed robbery, and banditry across the country. Among them were three suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate believed to be connected with the Christmas Eve attack on some villages in Plateau State that culminated in the killing of about 150 people.
This is in furtherance to the sustained efforts of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to curb crimes and criminality across the country.
The Force spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this added, ‘Police recovered 5,454 rounds of live ammunitions of different calibres, 300 live cartridges, 50 empty shells of ammunition, 68 rifles, and 33 different ATM cards amongst others.’
The suspects of the Plateau killings are Ahmed Sulaimon, Balikisu Aliyu and Aboki Samuel.
‘Upon their arrest, 1 AK-47 rifle; 1 AK-49 rifle; 1000 rounds of live ammunition and 5 magazines were recovered from them,’ Adejobi said.
‘Also, 4 suspects were arrested in connection with the bank robbery at Oturkpo where Nine AK-47 rifles were recovered from the said suspects while five suspects fell to the superior fire power of police operatives during a fierce gun duel at their hideout in Taraku Village, Buruku LGA of Benue State.
‘They all confessed to committing the heinous act and linked other gang members who are at large and have also named Terzungwe Shionda a.k.a ‘3-Star General’ (now late); Terlumum Pila and one Ayuko, both at large, to be the ones supplying them arms on loan for their operations.
‘The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Police to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens by relentlessly cracking down on criminals and criminally related activities and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Nigeria is a safe space for everyone,’ Adejobi further stated.
