Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Special Tactical Squad (STS) have arrested a total of thirty-two robbery suspects for their complicity in crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery, arms smuggling, illegal possession of weapons, trading in illicit drugs, trans-border car theft, rape, amongst others. 

The team in the process, recovered nineteen AK47 rifles, one GPMG, three revolver rifles, two G-3 rifles, one SMG, one berretta pistol, four hundred and fifty-three rounds of live ammunition of different calibre, twelve magazines and seventeen stolen vehicles from the suspects.

Among the paraded suspects were the perpetrators of a recent attack on travellers in the Tafa axis of the Kaduna–Abuja Highway, where two women and their husbands were abducted by the criminals and whisked into the forest. 

The Operatives deployed to that area mobilized and went after the suspects. They eventually identified their hideout, launched a rescue mission and successfully rescued the hostages, unhurt.

Another notable case was the arrest of six notorious criminals involved in car thefts in different parts of the country, particularly Nasarawa, Port-Harcourt, FCT, Kebbi and Zamfara. 

The suspects would then smuggle the stolen vehicles through land borders and deliver same to a receiver called Alhaji Garuba (still at large) in Niger Republic. 

Investigations revealed that the suspects usually snatch the cars at gun point and sometimes remove them from where crowded car parks like the Cinemas and places of worship. These cars are then sold in neighbouring countries either at give-away prices or sometimes delivered to Alhaji Garuba in exchange for weapons. 

The INTERPOL unit of the Nigeria Police has already liaised with their counterparts in Niger Republic to arrest the fleeing suspects in order to bring them to face justice.

There was also the arrest of one 27 year-old Dayyabu Mohammed of Soba Local Government of Kaduna State for illegal possession of five AK47 rifles and 250 rounds of AK47 ammunition. The suspect was arrested during a crackdown on bandits at Saminaka Forest in kaduna State.

Investigation revealed that Dayyabu Mohammed is an arms supplier to two identified and wanted bandits in the North West and North Central parts of the country. The two bandit kingpins are Yellow and Budderi. Dayyabu Mohammed was intercepted while ferrying the weapons from Jos, Plateau State in a Golf-3 saloon car to the Bandit in their hideouts located in a forest at Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State. 

Investigations revealed that the car was given to Dayyabu as his operational vehicle by one of the wanted bandits, with a promise that the full ownership of the vehicle will revert to him on completion of five successful arms delivery missions.

A gang of six; Mohammed lawali, Suleiman Ibrahim, Mohammed Rebo, Bashir Audu, Monsoru Abubakar and Abubakar Hamidu were also arrested in connection with the attack on a Mosque in Mazakuka area in Mashegu Local Government Area in Niger State, where eighteen people were reportedly killed and more than thirty abducted. 

Investigations revealed that the gang leader, Mohammed lawali and some of the gang members are escapees from the Lokoja correctional centre. Bashir Audu was arrested for his role of supplying hard drugs to the gang. Two AK47 rifles, three fully-loaded magazines and various parcels of hard drugs were recovered from them.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba commended the team for the successful operations. He assured that the Force would continue to close-up on these criminal elements who pose threats to our national security. 

He called on victims of car theft to visit the STS office at Guzape, Abuja with proof of ownership to claim the vehicles bearing in mind that the colour, interior and vehicle number plates might have been tampered with. He said all the suspects will be arraigned in court soon.

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