The Bauchi State Police Command has busted a three-man gang known for threatening to kidnap individuals unless they pay ransom.
SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, ANIPR, the command’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement on Sunday, March 24, 2024.
He stated that the suspects were apprehended for various charges including criminal conspiracy, intimidation, threatening life, and attempting to commit kidnapping.
The arrests came after the suspects threatened to abduct a businessman named Yahaya Adamu and his family if he didn’t pay a ransom of N5 million.
“The relentless and proactive counter-kidnapping efforts of the Bauchi State Police Command against kidnapping and other serious crimes continue to yield positive outcomes.
The Command’s operatives, along with other security agencies, have achieved another significant success in apprehending criminals and their associates,” the statement concluded.
In an effort to curb the rising incidents of kidnapping, on March 7, 2024, at approximately 2:00 PM, Yahaya Adamu from Badakoshi village in Bauchi LGA reported to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) of the Bauchi State Command.
He recounted that on March 4, 2024, at around 8:30 PM, an unidentified caller threatened him with kidnapping unless he paid five million naira. The caller even provided bank details for the ransom.
The suspects, Haro Adamu, Aliyu Saidu, and Musa Umaru, were apprehended in Birnin Kudu LGA of Jigawa State and Kaltunga via Plateau State. Upon interrogation, they confessed to the crime.
Haro Adamu admitted to collecting ransom payments and revealed previous extortion schemes, including one in 2022 where they threatened and extorted money from Alhaji Yahaya of Alkaleri LGA and another in 2024 from a man in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
Aliyu Saidu confessed to providing Alhaji Yahaya’s phone number to the group for extortion, despite their long-standing relationship.
Musa Umaru also admitted to his involvement and revealed a history of fraudulent activities, including phone scams and roadside deception. Despite previous arrests and brief incarceration, he resumed criminal activities, now involving kidnapping.
The suspects are slated for prosecution following their apprehension.
