Master Mind Of Kidnap Of UBEC Chairman Killed In Shoot-out With Puff Adder Operatives
A kidnapping kingpin and notorious armed robber, who recently masterminded the kidnap of the UBEC Chairman along Abuja- Kaduna road has died on Saturday May 18, 2019 following multiple injuries sustained from a shootout with police attached to Operation Puff Adder.
The suspect, one Sumaila Sule, alias SHAHO, male (estimated be in his mid thirties), a native of Rijana village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state, according to the police is one of the most vicious and most wanted kidnappers that has been terrorizing citizens in Kaduna and its environs.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba said the shootout took place in the evening of Friday May 17, 2019, at the outskirts of Rijana village of Kaduna state.
Mba explained that the police operatives, in line with the mandate of Operation Puff Adder, were carrying out routine surveillance and raid of suspected criminal hide-outs, when they suddenly came under gun fire attack from a heavily armed criminal gang.
According to Mba; “The police team fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and eventually bringing SHAHO down, whilst his gang members fled. SHAHO was rushed to hospital, where he eventually died the next day.”
The Force spokesman further said that acting on information elicited from the suspect before his death, police operatives, between May 18 and 19, 2019, carried out sweeping follow-up operations at different target locations.
He said the coordinated operations led to the arrest of four other members of SHAHO’s gang and the recovery of three AK 47 rifles.
Mba also said; “The arrested gang members include: MUSA Hassan 26yrs, Yau Umar 25yrs, Umar MUSA 22yrs and Muhammad SANI 28yrs , all males and natives of Rijiana Village Kachia LGA Kaduna State. SHAHO and his gang members have been on the radar of the intelligence community for a while, as they have been implicated in several high level kidnappings and other heinous crimes along Kaduna-Abuja road and beyond.”
In a related development, a combined team of Operation Puff Adder operatives, comprising of the IGP Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Police Mobile Force and the Special Anti Robbery Squad have arrested another set of kidnappers who have been terrorizing citizens at Mubi axis of Adamawa state.
During the operation, one AK 47 rifle and 26 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang.
The suspects arrested are: Umaru Ibrahim native of Yadi Buni, Yobe State ; Abdul Maina native of Maiha Adamawa State and Mohammed Abubakar native of Buni Yadi Yobe State.
The police said that the suspects have all confessed to participating in numerous kidnapping and armed robbery operations within Adamawa State, including the kidnap and collection of a ransom of seven million naira from one Mallam Abdulahi Umoru of Hong Local Government Area.
Mba said that investigations into the cases are on-going, while efforts aimed at arresting other members of the gangs still at large are being intensified.
The Inspector General of Police (Ag IGP) Mohammed Adamu while commending police operatives for their gallantry, as well as selfless service to the nation and humanity, reassured Nigerians that the war against crimes and criminality will soon be won.
IGP Adamu called for continuous support for the police and other law enforcement agencies, promising that the security agencies will not rest on their oars till normalcy is restored in every part of Nigeria.
