From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia
Police authorities in Nasarawa said they have succeeded in bursting a ring of kidnappers who came into the state from Anambra with the intent of carrying out their nefarious activities.
The state commissioner of police, CP Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this yesterday, while parading two members of the kidnapping ring alongside 34 armed robbery suspects, at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
According to CP Idris, the suspected kidnappers came into Lafia from Anambra state, located a safe house where their victims will be kept and that the criminals have already selected some prominent businessmen as their targets.
“Police investigations following the arrests of the suspects, based on a tip-off, revealed that the kidnappers had perfected a plan to request for the sum of N100 million as ransom from their selected targets” the CP stated.
The police gave the names of those targeted by the kidnappers as Chief Collins Ezenwa and Chief Emenike Ezeani, while arranging with one Olisa Chukwu, who is still at large, from Anambra state.
He stated that, in its bid to strengthen the effort of the Command at combating the scourge of armed robbery, a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been formed, with the move already yielding dividend.
The CP disclosed further that, as a result of activities of the SARS, several armed robbery operations have been foiled, with three stolen vehicles recovered within a period of three weeks.
The Command, under the period of review, also arrested 5 cattle-rustlers in Nunku, Akwanga local government area, where the suspects allegedly rustled 10 cows belonging to one Hassan Audu, with the police recovering 8 of the cows from the robbers.
Other items recovered by the police include 14 locally-made firearms and 11 9mm live ammunition.
The CP used the occasion to make known to the public a new SARS emergency number as well as the Police emergency numbers, which he gave as follows: SARS emergency number, 08034947540; Police hotlines, 08123821571 and 07059473022.
He, therefore, urged the general public to use the numbers in giving useful information in case of any emergency or distress.
