Police arrest notorious kidnapping kingpin in Yobe

Yobe State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a notorious kidnapping kingpin on a wanted list.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to the statement, on July 5, 2024, at about 1300hrs, detectives from the State Intelligence Department (SID) arrested one Usmanu Garba, 30, of Katarko Village, Gujba local government area, while on his way to spend his share of proceeds from a kidnapping operation.

It said that the suspect is a member of a gang specialised in armed robbery, kidnapping, and cattle rustling in Gujba and neighbouring towns.

“The gang was responsible for the recent kidnapping incident that occurred in Babaram Muktum, a Fulani settlement in Gujba LGA, where the gang kidnapped a resident and collected a ransom of N1.6 million.

“They also robbed the victim’s father of his mobile phone before releasing the victim. Other syndicate members are on the run, and the command is intensifying efforts to apprehend them,” it said.

The command said the suspect confessed to the crime and is cooperating with detectives as the investigation deepens.

The Commissioner of Police urged members of the public to be vigilant and report suspicious movements, activities, and events.