By Linus Aleke
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), on Thursday, paraded a suspected assassin, Mr. Yusuf Ismael Isah, 32 years of age from Okene, in Kogi State, who in company of other gang members, now at large, attempted to snuff out life from Apostle Johnson Suleman, the Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, in Edo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who paraded the suspect during a press briefing on the breakthrough recorded by Nigerian Police Force (NPF), also revealed that the force is closing-in on the remaining gang members.
“It is a matter of time before they are arrested to face trial for their criminal activities,” he said.
No fewer than 19 others whose offence ranged from armed robbery, kidnapping, drug peddling, unlawful possession of firearm, amongst others were also paraded during the briefing.
While briefing crime reporters in Abuja, CSP Adejobi, said: “The Nigeria Police Force has recorded several notable successes in our crime fighting efforts. The Nigeria Police Force, within the past 2 months arrested 548 Armed Robbery suspects, 242 Kidnapping suspects, 365 Murder/Homicide suspects and about 237 suspects for Rape/Defilement. While about 113 victims of Kidnapping were successfully rescued within the period under review.
“Additionally, in furtherance of efforts emplaced by the Force to mop up illegal weapons and curb the proliferation of illicit firearms in the country, about 306 Firearms, and 3,944 ammunition of different calibres were recovered across the country. Today we have 20 suspects arrested for various offences including Criminal Conspiracy, Attempted Murder, Murder, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and Possession of Illicit Drugs, alongside 44 firearms and 111 live ammunition recovered at various locations by police Operatives across the country. Total suspects, 20, 40 AK-47 Rifles, three Pistols, three Locally made shotguns, one locally made single barrel gun, 100 K2 Ammunition, 20 packs of Tramadol, five blocks of fake gold, one iphone 13 pro max, five different company stamps and 800 USD cash”.
He noted that prominent amongst these breakthroughs was the arrest of one Yusuf Ismael Isah aged 32, a plumber from Okene, Kogi State, by gallant operatives of the Force.
He said, investigations revealed that he was part of the 7-man gang that launched a fatal attack on the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, on October 21, 2022, along Benin – Auchi road, wherein six people, including three police officers, were gruesomely murdered.
Intelligence, further revealed that the 7-man syndicate has been actively involved in kidnapping operations within Edo State and its environs and have carried out about 4 kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, before the gang was eventually busted by the Police.
Exhibits recovered from the suspect upon his arrest in Ondo State include five AK47 Rifles, two K2 Assault Rifles, 180 Rounds of Live Ammunition, four suspected locally made IEDs, one pistol, and four rounds of 9mm ammunition.
“Similarly, 5 suspects were apprehended in Abuja for Conspiracy and Kidnapping. The suspects – Emu Larry Chidiebere ‘m’ 34, Samuel Balogun ‘m’ 22, Williams Banjo ‘m’ 28, Babatunde Femi ‘m’ 30, and Nneka Opara ‘f’ 32, were arrested for kidnapping a foreign national and obtaining a ransom of 2000 Dollars from his relatives. The suspects held the victim hostage in an apartment from May 30, 2023 to June 2, 2023. The suspects took pictures of the victim and forwarded the pictures and threat messages to the girlfriend of the victim in Zurich, who eventually sent them the sum of 2000 dollars via Western Union on June 1, 2023,” he said.
He added that the police has sustained a continuous assault on the camps of some non-state actors in the South-East enforcing an illegal sit at home order particularly in Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi States.
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In Enugu, he said, four suspects were killed following a gun duel with operatives of the Force on Friday 7th July, 2023 while one AK47 with 19 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and two molotov cocktails were recovered.
“In Ebonyi, 17 suspects were arrested following a raid on the hideout of secessionist agitators on 5th and 6th of July, 2023, while 1 locally made revolver, 2 vehicle number plates and 3 live ammunition were recovered. Similarly, in Imo, police operatives arrested 26 hoodlums following the murder of a young man in their rampage, and successfully recovered 5 firearms, 66 live ammunition and several other exhibits,” he further revealed.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, he concluded has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to continually ensure the safety and security of all and sundry, while emphasizing that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the effort to suppress and decimate criminality and the heinous activities of non-state actors who cause pain, hardship, and sorrows to innocent law abiding members of the Nigerian society.
