Police Operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder have between 5th June, 2019 and Wednesday 19th June, 2019 arrested a total of thirty-two kidnap suspects, including 4 involved in the kidnap of Chairman of the Board of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Muhammed Mahmood, and his daughter.
Mahmood, whose driver was shot dead in the operation, was abducted alongside his daughter along the Kaduna-Abuja highaway, around Katari, but himself and his daughter have since been released.
The Operatives also recovered eleven (11) AK47 rifles, two (2) pump action guns, three (3) locally made listols, twelve (12) dane guns, two (2) revolver listols, ten (10) live cartridges, seventy-seven (77) live ammunition and two (2) volkswagen vehicles.
The arrest of the four (4) suspects is sequel to the massive manhunt launched to apprehend the fleeing members of the kidnap gang involved in the kidnap of the UBEC Chairman.
The spokesman of the Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, while parading the suspects in Abuja, said they were arrested by police operative on Operation Puff Adder, between 5th June and 19th June, 2019.
Confession: Read about suspect who made N200m from kidnapping in six months
Mba also explained that Umar was responsible for the kidnap of foreign nationals whom he keeps hostage until substantial ransoms are paid.
Interacting with journalists, Umar admitted to have participated in several kidnapping, mainly in Niger and Kebbi States. See video of Umar confessing to have made over N200m from kidnapping in six months here.
He confessed to have worked with superiors, who kidnapped people in Sokoto State where they received N100 million as ransom payments. He said they also kidnapped people in Oyo state and received about N50 million in ransom payments.
Umar also said he coordinated the kidnapping of six people. He said they kidnapped a Chinese expatriate around Mahuta, in Kebbi State and collected ransom of N9 million, adding that he collected about N20 million as ransom payments for several kidnappings recently in Niger state.
Similarly, the Police Operatives, within the period under review, have following raids of criminal hideouts in Kainji, New Bussa, Mariga Bangi and Charagi in Niger and Kwara State respectively and Birnin Yero forest along Birnin Gwari, Garu Rahama, Gaidan Gaya in Kaduna State, arrested twenty (28) other notorious kidnappers/armed robbers, including one Abubakar Umar a.k.a Buba Dogo.
Investigation reveals that Abubakar Umar is a specialist in the kidnap of foreign nationals whom he keeps hostage until substantial ransoms are paid.
Also, the Operatives have intercepted trucks conveying one thousand, nine hundred and seventy two (1972) bags of grains and two hundred and eight (208) bags of beans to bandits’ hideout in a forest in Zamfara State.
“This action, no doubt, will cut-off food supply and hopefully neutralize their stronghold in their camps,” read a statement by DCP Frank MBA, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the IGP has observed that the achievements recorded so far by the Operatives of Operation Puff Adder would not have been possible but for the immense support and cooperation of the public.
He reiterates that the support has come in a manner that clearly demonstrates the increasing determination of citizens to support the Police in restoring internal security.