Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested three suspects during a raid on suspected kidnappers' hideouts in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja. This operation is part of ongoing anti-kidnap efforts in the region, which has recently become a hotspot for such criminal activities. On Tuesday, at least 20 residents were kidnapped in the area council.
A statement released on Friday by the Nigerian Army on their official X account detailed the raid, which took place on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Ajegunle Mpape. The operation targeted a notorious informant known for harboring kidnappers. During the raid, the troops apprehended Ashiru Mohammed, an informant, along with two female accomplices, Raham Abubakar and Sadiya Mohammed.
The soldiers recovered one Beretta pistol, one pistol magazine, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, five ATM cards from different banks, two mobile phones, and suspected illicit drugs from the suspects. The suspects are currently assisting in further investigations.
In a related operation, troops in Oyo State arrested a suspected kidnapper during a stop-and-search operation. The suspect, Usman Mohammed Aliyu, was intercepted along the Igboho-Igbeti Road in the Igbeti Local Government Area. Aliyu was found in possession of N400,000 and confessed to being involved in cattle rustling and kidnapping. The suspects will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies after investigations.
