The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate accused of collecting ₦14 million in ransom after abducting 10 victims along the Tegina-Makera road.
The suspects, including Aliyu Muhammad Bodo, 23, of Dutsen-gogo via Babana, New Bussa, and Tukur Hassan Ali, 22, of Bode-Saadu, Kwara State, were arrested during a joint security operation around Tanangi village forest via Kasanga in Mashegu Local Government Area.
The operation, conducted on August 14 by joint security teams and local vigilantes following a kidnapping incident in the area, also led to the rescue of six victims.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 Android phones belonging to victims, five keypad phones, a NIN slip, a brown bag and ₦1,045,200 were recovered from the suspects.
The police PRO disclosed that the recovered cash was allegedly the suspects’ share of the ransom collected from victims.
He said that, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to conspiring with other members of their gang identified as Smallie, Tashaka, Dan-Sarki and Turo, who are currently at large.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that the gang kidnapped 10 victims along the Tegina-Makera road and collected ₦14 million in ransom.
They also allegedly disclosed that the gang had access to one AK-47 rifle and three pump-action rifles, which they claimed were being kept by their accomplices and used in carrying out kidnapping operations.
The police spokesman stated that some of the rescued victims later identified the two suspects during an identification parade conducted at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna.
The Command said the suspects remained in custody while investigation continued, particularly in efforts to apprehend the other members of the alleged gang.
The police added that the suspects would be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.