The Taraba State Police Command has reported the apprehension of an alleged kidnapper named Aliyu Muhammed, who was found in possession of N8.5 million and seven mobile phones.
The arrest was disclosed by the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Joseph Eribo, during a statement on Wednesday in Jalingo.
According to Commissioner Eribo, the 35-year-old suspect, originally from Mubi, Adamawa State, was captured by mobile policemen at a checkpoint located at Yaggai on the Jalingo-Yola bypass.
The arrest took place on Tuesday, and Muhammed was driving a Toyota car with the registration number YLA 321 ZY.
Commissioner Eribo stated that the suspect failed to provide a satisfactory account of himself, leading to a thorough search of his vehicle.
The search revealed a substantial sum of N8,555,000 in cash, seven mobile phones, a N3,000 MTN recharge card, and seven amulets.
During the inspection, two additional suspects reportedly fled the scene by jumping out of the car and escaping into the nearby bush.
Muhammed allegedly attempted to bribe the Police Mobile Force (PMF) team, urging them to accept the entire sum of money and let him go. However, the law enforcement team refused the bribe and proceeded to arrest him.
Further investigation into the matter uncovered an additional N4 million in the suspect’s bank account, as revealed by the Commissioner of Police.
Additionally, the police announced the arrest of five other suspected kidnappers by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit, along with local vigilante members.
The arrested individuals were identified as Habibu Ibrahim, alias Rilwanu; Abba Mohammed aka Gandari; Aliyassa’u Umar; Abdulaziz Adamu aka Dan-Mallam, and Danlami Ibrahim, alias Teacher, all residing in the Jauro Ganah New CBN area of Jalingo. The police recovered three AK-47 rifles, each loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, from the aforementioned suspects.
