The Niger State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnap gang, which abducted Abubakar Umar of Auna Magma Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect, Muktar Abubakar (24), a native of Auna Magma LGA, was arrested by police detectives attached to the Kontagora Area Command following a tip-off.

It was learnt that last month, the suspect and other members of his gang, who are still at large, invaded the house of their victim and kidnapped him.

Northern City News gathered on Sunday that the suspect, alongside the fleeing gang members, demanded N150m as ransom, but were paid N13.5m after several days of negotiation.

Checks revealed that during interrogation, Abubakar disclosed that one Mallam Umaru Aminu and seven other gang members facilitated the kidnap.

The suspect told our correspondent that he ran out of luck when detectives caught up with him in Kotangora as he was perfecting his plans to escape.

He said, “I never knew in my wildest imagination that the police would one day arrest me, otherwise I would have been swimming in millions of naira; it is unfortunate.

“I knew that whatever has a beginning must have an end; honestly, this is the end of the road for me and my gang members. We have already planned how to share the loot but now, I end up in the police net; too bad.”

The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mohammad Abubakar, said the suspect used part of the ransom to buy a Honda motorcycle, adding that the operatives had intensified efforts to arrest other members of the gang.

He added that the motorcycle had been recovered from the suspect, who would soon appear in court. – Punch

– Dec. 17, 2018 @ 8:37 GMT |