ABUJA KIDNAPPINGS: HOW KINGPIN CHINAZA WAS ARRESTED — POLICE

.... 16 kidnappers terrorising FCT arrested, sophisticated firearms  recovered

Following the recent launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, towards fortifying the security landscape in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and through collaborative efforts with the Department of Force Intelligence – Intelligence Response Team (DFI-IRT), the FCT Command Anti-Violent Crimes Section, Anti-kidnapping Section and other State Commands of the Nigeria Police Force, have successfully apprehended 16 suspected kidnappers terrorising Bwari Area Council of the FCT and the Territory at large.

This is even as the Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, also said in a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No: RBC 90 DL, Gray colour, by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedez Benz 230 car, Police operatives in an intelligence propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of N500,000.00 was transferred from his account.

The suspects, however, ran out of luck as they were intercepted by Police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna State where three of them escaped, while one by the name Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested, and the victim rescued unhurt, while the said Hilux Van recovered.

Meanwhile, the Police recovered a significant arsenal of arms and ammunition, including a general purpose machine gun (GPMG) from the 16 suspects.

ACP Adejobi said amongst the suspects paraded on Saturday were three Bwari-based kidnappers – Idris Ishaku, 27, Bala Umar, 27, and Dahiru Salisu, 27, who had been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Area Council and other parts of the FCT Abuja.

Amongst the achievements recorded was the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the three Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them.

The Police said it was discovered that Chinaza and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences, at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.

Also, operatives of the DFI-IRT office intercepted one Everest Magaji, a gunrunner, during negotiation with some notorious bandits who are currently at large, for the purchase and supply of illicit firearms and ammunition.

Eleven Pistols, and two Pump Action Guns were recovered from the suspect.

The Force PRO said the achievements recorded through these relentless operations demonstrate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of inspector-general of police to ensure our country becomes a safe haven for us to inhabit.

He said the IGP urges all citizens to be very observant of their environs and the people in it, and report any suspicious activity immediately to the Police.