The alleged kidnappers of the
wife of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele were today paraded by the Police in Abuja.
The ransom paid them for the
release of the woman were also recovered.
Read full text of the press
conference
Gentle men of the Press, you are welcome to today’s
press briefing.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K.
Idris NMP, mni, is committed in ensuring that all forms of crime, fear of crime
and particularly kidnap for ransom and other violent crimes are brought to the
lowest ebb throughout the country.
Similarly, the IGP is determined in making sure
that all those who are engaged in kidnappings, abductions and armed criminal
activities will not escape Justice. To this end, the Nigeria Police will
galvanize all available resources at its disposal to make sure miscreants,
hoodlums and deviants have their day with the law.
Against this background, the IGP had ordered the
Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and other tactical teams to swing into action
to rescue Mrs. Margret Emiefele, the wife of the Central Bank Governor unhurt
and apprehend all those remotely or directly responsible for the dastardly act.
It will be recalled that Mrs Margret Emiefele and
three of her aides were abducted on 29/9/2016 at Oquneki Hills along
Benin-Agbor road, in Delta State.
Consequent upon deployment of Intelligence
Platform, Mrs. Emiefele and her aides were rescued on 30/9/ 2016 unhurt
and they have since been reunited with their families after debriefing.
Subsequently the following suspects were arrested
and exhibits listed were recovered from them
SUSPECTS:
i.
Lance
Corporal Musa Maidabra ‘M’ 28 years
ii.
Lance
corporal Edwin George ‘M’
iii.
Ernest
Anthony Uduefe ‘M’ 32 years (dismissed Soldier)
iv.
Mohammed
Abubakar A.K.A Dogo ‘M’ 29 years (Gang leader)
v.
Mohammed
Musa ‘M’ 26 years
vi.
Mohammed
Sule ‘M’ 26 years
vii.
Ibrahim
Abdullahi ‘M’ 30 years
viii.
Aliyu
Musa ‘M’ 30 years
ix.
Mohammed
Yusuf ‘M’ 36 years
EXHIBIT:
i.
Fourteen
million seven hundred and twenty five thousand naira (# 14, 725,000)
ii.
Three
Vehicles (Two Honda cars and an Audi car).
iii.
1 AK 47
magazine and two cartridges
i.
NA/65/7115
LANCE CORPORAL MUSA MAIDABARA: The suspect is a 30 year old native
of Katau Village in Billiri LGA of Gombe State. A Lance corporal with the
Nigerian Army serving at 122D30 Regiment in Maiduguri, Borno State, he was
arrested for the active role he played in the kidnap. Upon his arrest, he made
a confessional statement to the Police admitting to be part of the gang that
kidnapped and collected ransom from the victim’s family.
In the course of investigation
into the crime, a Jeep worth one million five hundred thousand naira and a sum
of four million naira which was his own share of the ransom money was recovered
from his possession. It was also discovered that he, in company of NA/65/6582
Lance Corporal Edwin George and one Ernest Anthony Uduefe, a dismissed soldier,
while dressed in Army Uniform, escorted some of the kidnappers and the ransom
money in a maroon colour Audi car out of the forest where they had kept the
victim, to Benin City, Edo State.
ii.
NA/65/6582
LANCE CORPORAL EDWIN GEAORGE: A native of Otukpo town, Otukpo LGA of Benue
State. He is personnel of the Nigerian Army serving at 122D Regiment in
Maiduguri, Borno State. As earlier mentioned, he was part of the trio that
escorted the ransom money to Benin City Edo State.
A Honda car worth one million
one hundred thousand naira (1,100,000) which he used part of his loot to
purchase was recovered from him. The suspect was arrested on 05/10/2016 at
about 1300hrs in his home town.
iii.
ERNEST
ANTHONY UDUEFE: The suspect is 32 years old, he is a native of Igbuku village,
Ndokwa East LGA of Delta State. He also volunteered a confessional statement to
his involvement in the crime.
Investigation revealed that he
also bought a Honda car worth one million five hundred thousand naira
(1,500,000) and furnished an apartment in Benin City Edo State within 48hrs of
the kidnap incident. The sum of one million five hundred thousand naira in cash
and the said Honda car was recovered from him.
iv.
MOHAMMED
ABUBAKAR A.K.A DOGO: The suspect is 30 years of age. He is a native of Mubi
town, in Mubi LGA of Adamawa State and the leader of the group. He confessed to
the crime and admitted that he received the sum of eleven million naira
(11,000,000) in cash from the ransom paid. The suspect however, claimed to have
given one Danjuma who is presently on the run, the said sum to keep for him.
v.
MOHAMMED
MUSA: The suspect is 26 years old and hails from Yabo LGA of Sokoto State. He
also volunteered a confessional statement admitting that he is a member of the
gang and also, that he received the sum of ten million naira (10,000,000) from
the ransom paid.
He sustained bullet wounds after
a gun duel with the Police while trying to leave the forest where they had kept
the victim. The cash sum of seven million seven hundred thousand naira (7,
700,000) was recovered from him. Useful information was gotten from him that
led to the arrest of other gang members.
vi.
MOHAMMED
SULE: He is 26 years old and a native of Awe village in Awe LGA of Nasarawa
State. The suspect confessed to have received ten million naira (10,000,000) in
cash as part of his share of ransom paid and claimed a soldier and a gang
leader escaped with the loot.
vii.
IBRAHIM
ABDULLAHI: He is a 30 year old native of Fondogeri LGA of Niger State. He admitted
to have received ten million naira (10,000,000) in cash as part of his share of
the ransom money.
viii.
ALIYU
MUSA AND MOHAMMED YUSUF: 29 year old Aliyu Musa and 36 year old Mohammed Yusuf
were arrested for their involvement in the kidnap incident based on information
availed the Police by Mohammed Musa one of the aforementioned suspects. They
are being investigated further on the roles played by the two in the commission
of the crime.
The Nigeria Police Force will continue to limit
the capacity of kidnappers and other criminals to disrupt the quality of life
of Nigerians by the deployment of adequate manpower and resources in crime
reduction, detection and effective prosecution of offenders in courts of
competent jurisdiction.
The curtailment of the activities of kidnappers in
our communities will be ultimately successful through the cooperation and
collaboration of all stakeholders. There must be collective ownership of law
enforcement.
It is instructive to mention that money or
‘ransom’ is sometimes used as a bait or bargaining chip to save the lives of
the victims of crime which is primary to security operatives.
It is also absolutely important to mention that
the Police do not and will not encourage payment of ransom.
The relatives of victims of kidnap for ransom are
strongly advised to exercise considerable caution to succumb in payment of
ransom. It is inherently counterproductive. At all times of kidnap scenario, it
is pertinent the Police are involved and trusted.
Thank
you for your time and God bless us all.
SIGNED
DCP. Don N. Awunah, fsi
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters
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