When Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) told kidnappers unleashing terror in the city that the end had come, many thought he was bluffing.
Well, since then, it has been from one significant arrest to another, as men of the Nigeria Police Force battle to put an end to this nightmare.
Now, the police has made a significant breakthrough in the case of the abduction and murder of Nabeeha, the daughter of a Bwari-based lawyer, with the arrest of a kidnapper.
The arrest is linked to a series of abductions that took place in the Sagwari Estate Layout in the Dutsen-Alhaji area of the Bwari Area Council of Abuja.
The Abduction
In a tragic incident that shook the community, about 19 abductees were taken by bandits.
The kidnappers later demanded a colossal ransom of ₦700 million for nine victims.
Among those kidnapped was Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and 13-year-old Folashade Ariyo.
Four hostages, including Nabeeha, were killed by the kidnappers.
Nabeeha was abducted with six other siblings, along with their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar.
They were taken from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja on January 2.
The Arrest
The police, in a statement on Sunday, announced the arrest of 28-year-old Bello Mohammed during a hotel raid in Kaduna on January 20.
Mohammed was found with ₦2.25 million in cash, suspected to be part of the ransom money.
During interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the gang responsible for the kidnapping of Barrister Ariyo’s family members.
The statement reads, “The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, on January 20, 2024, have arrested one Bello Mohammed, 28, of Zamfara state, in Kaduna.
“The Divisional Police Officer, Tafa Division, acting on intelligence, raided one hotel in Tafa Area, Kaduna.
There, he arrested Bello, with the sum of ₦2.25m (Two Million, two hundred and fifty million naira) only.
This is suspected to be proceeds of ransoms collected from kidnapped victims within the area.”
The Bribe
He further admitted that the gang killed some of their kidnapped victims, including Nabeeha, in a camp in Kaduna State on January 13.
According to the statement, Mohammed offered a ₦1 million bribe to the DPO leading the operation, SP Idris Ibrahim.
But Ibrahim rejected the inducement and arrested the suspect.
The statement added, “The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to being part of the gang that kidnapped the family members of one Barrister Ariyo in Bwari, FCT, on January 2, 2024.
They killed some kidnapped victims, including Nabeeha, f, daughter of the legal practitioner, on January 13, 2024.
She was killed in a kidnappers camp, in Kaduna State.
Dramatic Situation
“The suspect, in a dramatic situation, offered ₦1,000,000 (one million naira only) to induce the DPO.
But he rejected the offer and carried out his duty diligently.”
Mohammed also confessed to the involvement of five bandits already neutralised by police in Kaduna.
Their deadly camp was also destroyed.
The suspect is being transferred to the IRT in Abuja for further investigations and to apprehend other accomplices.
Mohammed is currently assisting the police in their inquiries.”
Discreet Investigations
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has given an order.
He ordered that the suspect, who also confessed to the involvement of the already five (5) neutralised bandits in Kaduna by the IRT, headed by one Mai Gemu (aka Godara), whose deadly camp has also been destroyed, be handed over to the DFI-IRT in Abuja.
This will enable for discreet investigations into the matter and arrest of all other culprits responsible for the dastardly act.
The suspect is currently helping the police in their investigations,” the statement noted.
Also Read: Abuja: “The End Has Come” – Wike Tells Kidnappers After Arresting Informant
IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun commended the DPO’s commitment and professionalism.
He assured that “the police would leave no stone unturned in decimating criminally minded individuals and bequeathing to Nigerians a more secure society.”
