In continuation of its efforts to fight against violent crimes, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested 48 notorious criminal suspects in different parts of the country.

The suspects, including 47 males and 1 female were arrested by operatives of the FIB Intelligence Response Team IRT and Special Tactical Squad STS of the Force attached to the Operation Puff Adder II for their involvement and indictment in cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

It would be recalled that the ‘Operation Puff Adder II' was launched last week by Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) to fish out criminals after the first phase code-named 'Operation Puff Adder I' was launched in April 2019.

Following the successful breakthrough by the police team, forty-one prohibited firearms including 14 AK47 rifles, 10 AK47 Magazines, 58 live cartridges, 4 AK47 live ammunition, 4 POS Machines, 2 laptop computers, 18 mobile phones, Internet MODEM and 9 ATM cards were recovered from the suspects.    

Notable among the breakthroughs, was the arrest of the 9 criminal suspects responsible for the abduction of Honourable Mohammed Bashir Bape, Member, Taraba State House of Assembly in December, 2020. 

Eons Intelligence had reported how Mohammed, a lawmaker representing Nguroje constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly was kidnapped from his residence behind the SSS office area of Jalingo, the State capital at about 1. 30 am on Wednesday, December 9 by heavily armed gunmen.

The suspects were apprehended at their various hideouts in Taraba and Plateau States following an intense search by the Police team for the perpetrators of the crime and follow-up on recent spike in Kidnapping/armed robbery in Taraba and the North-Central States of the Country. 

The suspects are Yusuf Abubakar, 31years native of Jalingo LGA Taraba state, Muntari Umar, 27 years Native of Mayo Belwa LGA Adamawa State, Ahmadu Dahiru, 28 years, native of Lau LGA, Taraba State, Ali Alhaji Wurungo, 25years native of Lau LGA Taraba State, Buhari Nuhu, 25 years native of Jalingo LGA, Mohd GARBA, 30 years native of Mararaban Gasol, Taraba State, Yusuf Jibrillah 23 years , native of Mararaban Gasol Taraba State, Adamu Ahmadu aka Bulala 32 years native of Taraba State and one Idi Suleiman.

According to a statement released by Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious armed robbery/kidnapping syndicate that specializes in terrorizing innocent citizens in the North-Central/North East States particularly in Plateau and Taraba States.

"Police investigations have uncovered the roles played by each member of the gang during the kidnap of the Honourable Member. Investigations also established how the proceeds of the crime (ransom) were shared among the suspects."

In the same vein, the police operatives also arrested a 12-man cybercrime syndicate for internet fraud and other cyber-related offences. 

The suspects, between age 22 and 30, were arrested at a residence in Kubwa area of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Abuja following intelligence received by the Police.  

Similarly, the Police team busted a 2-man gang for complicity in the distribution and sale of illicit/dangerous drugs to bandits in their camps at Babuga, Nasarawa State. 

The suspects are a 61-year-old physically challenged man, Musa Usman from Kebbi State who resides in Anambra State and one Ahmed Shuaibu, 27 years, native of Nasarawa State. 

The physically challenged man has been taking advantage of his physical state to evade police attention until his eventual arrest. Thirty-five wraps of substance suspected to be Cocaine, were recovered from the suspects.  

The Inspector General of Police has assured that the Force will not relent in its commitment at re-dominating and reclaiming the public space from criminals that are hell bent on threatening the internal security order of the country and bringing such suspects to justice.