Police Rescue One In Every 15 Kidnap Victims In 2020

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) may have admitted to rescuing just just one out of every 15 kidnap cases that occured in 2020, newsliks.com can report.

This revelation comes from recent audit by the police of its activities in the year under review.
According to the police, it has rescued a total of 1, 002 Kidnap suspects and reunited them with their families.

But Independent survey shows that reported kidnap in the country that year was about 15 times more of the rescue success.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) Frank Mba, Force Spokesperson while parading over 21, 296 high profile criminals who were arrested in 2020 by the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Intelligence Response Unit (IRT) of the Force on Monday in Abuja, said, the suspects were arrested, investigated and empirically linked with offences as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and unlawful possesion of firearms.

According to Mba, a total of 3, 347 firearms mostly AK-47 and AK-49 were recovered and  total 133, 496 rounds of live ammunition were also recovered within the period.

He also said that, a total of 960 stolen vehicles of different makes were also recovered, the bulk of these, he said have been released to the owners.

He also said, within the first two weeks of this year 2021, a total of 18 hardended suspects were arrested by the operatives of the STS and IRT.

CP Mba further said, a total of AK-47 rifles and one submachine gun were recovered from the suspects.

“Also 236 AK-47 ammunitions, eight AK-47 magazines and other incriminating items were also recovered from the suspects.

He expressed the commitment of the police to provide adequate security for lives and property of Nigerians and foreighners residing in the country.

“We will adopt an agressive intelligence driven and community based crime fighting approach. We will be proactive and take battle to doorsteps of the criminals,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Mohammed Adamy has assured Nigerians of improved security in the year 2021.

The IGP stressed that the Force will be unrelenting in the fight against all forms of crimes especially kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, cultism, cybercrime, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), amongst others in the country in the year 2021.

Adamu also assured that the NPF will implement aggressive, proactive, intelligence-driven and community-based crime fighting strategies in its quests to make the country safer.

He promised the Force will take the battle to the door steps of the criminals and also expand its collaboration with the citizens and other Law Enforcement Agencies in its bid to flush out criminal elements in the country.

The IGP, while reviewing the scorecard of police operations at the Force CID and Force Intelligence Bureau, revealed that a “total of 21,296 criminal suspects involved in various violent crimes, were arrested and 3,347 firearms, 133,496 ammunition and 960 stolen vehicles recovered.

“Also, 1,002 kidnap victims were safely rescued from their abductors and reunited with their families.”

Meanwhile, in a renewed commitment by the Force to advance the gains recorded in the fight against crimes in the country, particularly in the out gone year 2020, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested eighteen (18) criminal suspects for offences of armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.

“Eight AK47 rifles, One SMG sterling gun, 236 AK47 Ammunition, 12 pieces of SMG sterling gun ammunition, two Toyota Camry Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014 models (already released to the owners), were recovered from them.”

Notable among the arrests, is the arrest of one Abubakar Umaru also known as Buba Bargu, a 35 years, native of Kato Shiroro area of Niger State by the operativs ATS.

Investigations by Police Team revealed that, Abubakar is a member and armourer of a gang that has carried out several kidnap for ransom operations along Lokoja – Abuja and Abuja –Kaduna highways and other major highways in the North-Central States of the country.

Interestingly, this group carried out the abduction of one Mohammed Ahmadu also known as Confirm, a 30 years old kidnap kingpin and leader of another notorious kidnapping group in the North-Central when he came to their hideout in the forest to sell live ammunition to the group.

He was held and shot in the hand until his gang members paid a ransom of N1,555,000.00 only for his release.
Five AK47 rifles, five magazines and 120 rounds of AK47 ammunition were recovered from Abubakar Umaru at his hideout in the Forest.

Similarly, the Police operatives have arrested five members of an armed robbery syndicate who have their criminal network and base spread across Edo, Delta, Ondo and Lagos States.

The suspects namely; Godspower Ebogie, Samede Miracle, Efosa Rowland, also known as Double, Michael Ifeanyi Egwuatu and Ifeanyi Ewurum also known as Rati were arrested at various locations and linked to several cases of armed robbery and car snatching at gunpoint under investigations by the Police.

Two Toyota Camry Saloon Cars, 2006 and 2014 models, robbed from one Mr. Osayuwamen Isokpan and Mr Harrison Eribo on 26/6/2020 and 5/7/2020 respectively in Benin, Edo State were recovered from the gang.

Meanwhile, the IGP has commended the Police Teams for their dedication to duties which resulted in the successes recorded.

While appreciating the citizens for their support so far, the IGP calls for improved partnership and collaboration between the citizens and the Police particularly in the area of providing useful information the Police require in tackling crimes and apprehending unrepentant criminals in the country. All the suspects, CP Mba said will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.

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