The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested a 50-year-old man, Ado Haruna, who connived with bandits to kidnap his family members in Zaria, Kaduna State.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested Haruna based on a tip-off.
The suspect, who was among others recently paraded in Abuja, lives in Angwa Kanawa Dutse Abba in Zaria, Kaduna State. He reportedly led the criminal gang comprising Shago Yaro, Tanimu Ayuba and Lamido Dantajiri, close to his nephew, Alhaji Bashiru Anas’ house after describing him and his family members as a good catch for abduction that would bring in lots of financial returns from ransom payment.
However, when the gang members struck, Anas was not at home. In the process, his two wives, three children, younger brother, and his brother’s wife, were all kidnapped and spent 60 days in Buruku Sabo Birni, where negotiations for their release eventually took place.
Haruna, who made the confession when the Police paraded him publicly, said; “I’m into farming and vigilante work. It is true that I was the one who took bandits to Alhaji Anas’ house. Anas is my nephew; my elder sister’s son. I knew only one of the bandits who asked me to show them my nephew’s house.
“I led the bandits to his house but didn’t let him see me. We were living in the same community. They did not see Anas, so they took his wife and children. For the 60 days his family was in the bush, I was using Alhaji Anas’ phone to communicate with the bandits.
“The bandits were paid over N10 million as ransom, as I was made to know, but I was given N200,000 as my share. I bought maize with the money given to me. I didn’t know how the Police got information about my involvement. I just saw them at my home. Life pushed me into crime.”
Alongside Haruna, Police operatives also arrested Nyali Hassan, a notorious kidnapper linked to several abductions and other criminal activities in Kano and Kaduna States.
Acting on intelligence reports, IRT operatives traced Hassan to Stara Rago in Kano, where he was arrested with an AK-47 rifle (breech number 6047) and two empty magazines.
During interrogation, Hassan confessed to being a member of a six-man gang that specialises in kidnappings across Makarfi, Bari, Yankin Rago, and Beli towns.
Also, he identified his accomplices as Kawuje, Moude, Babagida, Kabiru, and Umar, revealing that Umar was still at large and in possession of two additional AK-47 rifles.
While recounting his criminal activities, Hassan, a 35-year-old father, said; “I have two wives and 10 children. I’m into farming and cattle rearing, but I added kidnapping to it. I was carrying out the operations in Kano. I started a year ago. I have kidnapped eight people but got money from five of them. I collected between N1 million and N10 million as ransom. Some of the victims escaped while those guarding them slept off. I was targeting the rich people.
“We usually carry out our operations by laying ambush for victims on the road or visiting their homes. We never killed any of our potential victims. I know that the Qur’an does not support crime, but I’ll say that my friends misled me. They would be spending so much money whenever we were at a gathering, so I decided to join them.”
Further disclosing that he bought a pickup van from his share of the proceeds and had inherited 20 cows from his late father, Haruna said; “My friend, Umar, who is also one of the gang members, taught me how to use and shoot with an AK-47 rifle”.
