Kaduna Police Rescue 6-Year-Old Kidnap Victim, Arrest 2 Suspects
By Trek Africa Newspaper
• NDLEA nabs 75 suspects, uncovers 16.8 tonnes of illicit drugs in Edo
The Police Command in Kaduna State has rescued a six-year-old boy, Sama’ila Haruna, who was kidnapped at Kunkumi, Makarfi Local Government Area, and arrested two suspects in connection with the crime.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Kaduna.
Hassan said on Nov. 8, at about 6:00 a.m., one Haruna Bala, 30, of Kunkumi, reported that unknown persons came to his house in his absence and abducted his son, Sama’ila Haruna, 6.
He said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N300,000, adding that the father negotiated and paid N30,000.
“Following an intelligence-led sustained operation, police operatives traced the suspects to a shop at Kunkumi where the victim was kept in captivity and arrested them,” he said.
Hassan listed the suspects as Usman Ahmed, 22, of Yarkasuwa Zoo Road, Kano State, and Abdullahi Yakubu, 25, of Kunkumi, Makarfi local government area of Kaduna State.
The spokesman noted that the phone used to demand the ransom was recovered as exhibit.
He said one suspect, Jamesy of Kabuga, Kano State, was still at large, adding that efforts were being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect.
Hassan confirmed that the victim had been rescued unhurt and reunited with his family, while the case was under investigation.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu, as commending the operatives for the prompt rescue.
The CP warned criminals to desist from crime, and reassured residents of the command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property.
In another development, The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command, says it arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers in connection with 16.8 tonnes of illicit substances seized and destroyed in October.
The State Commander, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Benin.
He said the suspects comprised 54 males and 21 females.
According to him, the command seized 2,496.12 kilogrammes of illicit substances and destroyed cannabis weighing 14,322.05 kilogrammes from eight farms covering 5.73 hectares.
Other substances seized included 3.22kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20kg of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide, six cups of cannabis brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup.
Ofoyeju said the statistics were released as the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, charged the command to intensify operations against drug cartels in the state.
Marwa gave the charge during an official visit to the command last week, urging officers to sustain intelligence-led operations and dismantle trafficking networks.
Ofoyeju described the visit as a morale booster, saying it had strengthened the command’s resolve to intensify the fight against drug trafficking.
One of the major seizures during the period, he said, involved a black Toyota Camry intercepted at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, conveying 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83kg.
He said three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Ofoyeju said the destroyed cannabis farms were located in Uzebba Forest, Ukhuise-Osi Community and Ugbada Forest in Owan West; Ugboshi Ele Forest in Akoko-Edo; and Eco Camp, Illushi, in Esan South East.
On prosecution, he said the command secured six convictions and filed 14 cases in court, while 103 cases remained pending.
He added that the command’s Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit counselled 47 clients, comprising 33 males and 14 females, who were subsequently released to their families.
“Another 12 clients are undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, perfume making and liquid soap production,” he said.
Ofoyeju said the command also conducted 10 sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, markets and public places in Benin City, reaching 5,293 people.
He said the participants comprised 2,324 males and 2,969 females.
The commander reaffirmed the command’s commitment to curbing illicit drug activities in Edo, saying a drug-abuse-free society was priceless.
