Crime

Police Recover Guns in Raids on Party Premises

By Web News 802

The Police in Sokoto State have recovered 3 AK-47 Rifles, a locally-made gun and “other dangerous weapons” at the surroundings of a political party’s secretariat in Isa Local Government Area.

The state commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel announced the seizures to newsmen while parading eight suspects for “various crimes” in the state.

Mr Gumel, who did not disclose the identity of the Political party, said the police “suspected” that the weapons were being stored by thugs ahead of political campaigns, adding that no arrest was made during the operation.

He warned that the police was not ready to “compromise its mandate” of ensuring a peaceful electioneering process, with a view to protecting the lives and property of the public.

He also warned “perpetrators of violence” that the command would not allow “blood-letting during campaigns or elections” in the state.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent in Sokoto reports that the eight suspects arrested by police stand accused of carrying out acts of “banditry, kidnapping and robbery” over the last month.

Mr Gumel said the arrests and recoveries were made in Gwadabawa, Isa, Wamakko and Sokoto south local government areas.

He hinted that the Command arrested one Abdullahi Bello, who, in collaboration with Ibrahim and Aliyu, all of Tudun Kwangi village, conducted acts of banditry in a community in Gwadabawa local government. The police recovered from him an AK-47 rifle, COP Gumel stated.

In the same vein, one Mohammed Umar of Bado Quarters, Sokoto, who stole a Toyota car and took to flight, was sighted and arrested in Bakori, Katsina state.

The CP also told the reporters that the Command, upon receiving a complaint from one Suleiman Musa that some persons conspired and kidnapped his son for a N4 million ransom, swung into action and subsequently arrested one Haliru Usman with his accomplices, Abdullahi Umar and Farouk Usman, indigenes of Plateau and Sokoto states, respectively.

The suspects have since been arrested and the sum of N2.5 million was recovered out of the N4 million paid as ransom by the father of the kidnapped child.

Mr Gumel also disclosed that the prime suspect is a neighbour to the father of the kidnapped child.

He attempted to reassure the public, pointing out that the “recently improved friendly relationship between the Police and the public” enhances peaceful conduct of socio-economic activities within the business circles in Sokoto metropolis and environs.

Nasiru Malali

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Crime

Gunmen Kill Farmer at Fiditi, Abduct Guard

By Web News 1073

A farm customer had been reportedly shot dead by some gunmen at Fiditi area of Oyo State.

 The security guard of the farm was also abducted.

The gunmen had invaded Living Yield Farms in Fiditi Town, Oyo State at about 5:45p.m last Wednesday.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the gunmen, seven in number, arrived at the farm at the time the workers were closing for the day.

With five of them armed with AK-47 rifles and other guns, it was learnt that they searched for victims to kidnap, with one of them targeting the farm manager, Mr Adelakun Sunday, at the time he was about leaving his office.

The manager was however able to flee but the security guard, an indigene of Plateau State, called Felix, was not so lucky as he  was  taken away by the abductors.

It was gathered that the owner of the farm was not around, as it was learnt that he had travelled.

The deceased, who was said to have come to the farm on his Bajaj motorcycle, had bought two dead chickens, which he had put in a sack, before he met his death.

However, the security man was said to have escaped from his abductors yesterday morning without payment of any ransom as he escaped when the abductors were sleeping.

When contacted, the state police spokesman, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the story, attributing the escape of the victim to pressure put on the abductors by the police, through continuous search for the criminals who tried to hide to evade arrest.

He said that the body of the deceased had been deposited in mortuary at State Hospital, Oyo, for autopsy, while investigation had commenced into the incident.

Abisola Oluremi