The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has smashed a kidnap and robbery syndicate in Kogi State. The Service disclosed this in a statement. Full release below:

In view of the increasing spate of kidnapping in Kogi State, the  Service  has  intensified  efforts  towards  curtailing  this threat. As such, within the last six (6) weeks, the Command had arrested  about ten (10) suspected  kidnappers,  most  of whom have been charged to court.

Recently, along  Abuja-Lokoja  highway,  Koton-Karfe,  Kogi LGA,  a  gang  of  robbers/kidnappers  was  arrested  by  the operatives of the Service following liaison report corroborated by  signal  intelligence linking  them  to  robbery  and  kidnapping activities within and outside the state.  Members of this gang who operated in military combat uniforms are:-   i.  Haruna SALEH (aka AUTA) –  Leader; ii.  Kabiru SHAIBU; iii.  Abdulmuminu  ADAMU; and  iv.  Tukur SHUIABU.

However, during  an on-the-spot  search conducted  on the suspects  and  their  vehicle,  the  following  items  were recovered:-

1. Three (3) pairs of Army Camouflage uniforms;
2. One locally made pistol;

iii.  One locally made long barrel gun;

1. Seven Pump Action cartridges;
2. A cutlass;
3. A knife;

vii.  Fourteen (14) handsets;

viii.  A set of plate number (AG 556 BNG);

1. Three (3) touch lights;
2. One green coloured Gulf3 vehicle with registration number KWL 946 FB; and
3. The sum of forty-six thousand, six hundred and seventy-five naira (N46,675).

Signal intelligence revealed that the group has links with other kidnap  syndicate operating  in FCT, Kaduna, Katsina  and Niger States.

They admitted that from the Ramadan to time of arrest, they  have  conducted  six  (6)  different  robbery/kidnap operations  alongside  with  two  (2)  other  gang  members.  The locations  include  Minna-Kantogara  road,  Niger  State, Mararaba-Jos road, Kaduna State, twice along Manufarshi road in Zaria, Kaduna  State and  twice along  Jaji-Zaria road.  They have  disclosed  their  source  of  military  uniforms  and  I  have invited the appropriate  service to join us in investigating  this angle of the case.

Apart from what was recovered from them, they revealed that they have a cache of three (3) AK 47 and other  weapons  which  they  are  cooperating  towards  their recovery.  6.  Both  signal  and  human  intelligence  indicate  that disproportionate  percentage of kidnappers  in Kogi State come from  outside  the State. They  exploit  the physical  geography and landforms as well as the route structure of the State. Kogi State  is  bordered  by  nine  (9)  States  and  the  FCT  and  the gateway between the North and South. The terrain is rugged and  it  has  both  land  and  inland  waterways  exist  and  entry routes.

The  Command  will  continue  to  collaborate  with  other security  agencies  by  deploying  her  core  competences  to address the security challenges of Kogi State and the Country, taking advantage of the renewed zeal of the State Government in  supporting  and  partnering  with  security  agencies.  The suspects will have their day in court soonest.