The Bauchi State Police Command says its operatives have arrested a 20-year-old kidnap/armed robbery suspect and recovered the sum of N8.4 million cash from him.

The state Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda, said this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Sanda said the command arrested the 20-year-old suspect at Tashan Daudu Soro in Ganjuwa LGA, on September 9, for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and being in possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

He said the exhibits recovered from the suspect included N8.466,000.00 cash, one SubMachine Gun (SMG) rifle with 92 live ammunition, one empty magazine, SMG rifle, and one 7.62mm caliber of live ammunition.

The police commissioner stated that other exhibits recovered from the suspect included eight different models of mobile phones, one MP3, one Honda motorcycle, and one cutlass.

Sanda said the suspect claimed innocence and that he was not aware of the exhibits.

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The commissioner said the suspect claimed that the recovered items belonged to his boss whom he simply identified as Ibrahim, adding that the boss was taking him out on his motorcycle to work as a pastoralist before the police arrested him.

According to Sanda, the suspect said his boss, on sighting the police, pushed him and the motorcycle then took to his heels, saying if he was an accomplice, he would have also fled.

The police commissioner added that on September 7, at about 4.00 p.m., a patrol team attached to Maina-Maji Divisional Police Headquarters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state killed two kidnap suspects who opened fire on the team while raiding their den.

He said the raid was done in collaboration with a vigilance group while acting on credible intelligence.

“On arrival, the kidnappers opened fire on the police operatives and while returning fire, two of the kidnappers were neutralised at the spot, and one was arrested,” Sanda disclosed.

He noted that exhibits recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle and 29 live ammunition.

Sanda reiterated that the police would not relent and would continue to deliver on its mandate to protect the lives and property of the people of Bauchi State by ensuring a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.

The Star