The Niger State Police Command apprehended two members of a kidnapping gang terrorising the local governments of Kafin-Koro, Paikoro, Lambata, Gurara, and FCT Abuja in Niger State, freeing seven victims in the process.

The police also took three cell phones and N2.1 million from the accused.

The command said this in a statement that was put out in Minna and signed by DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who is the state police PRO.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended on Friday at around 10:30 a.m. as a result of information that two male adults had been seen skulking along the Lambata-Bonu road in the Gurara LGA.

The DPO Lambata Division dispatched tactical units and neighbourhood vigilantes to the scene after receiving the information, according to the command’s spokeswoman. They then detained the two perpetrators.

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The suspects are Muhammadu Sani Yakubu, 21, of Paiko-Kore village in the FCT of Abuja, and Isyaku Anaruwa Abdullahi, 18, of Kwakuti village via Kafin-Koro, Paikoro LGA.

He claims that “during interrogation, the couple confessed to being among the abduction syndicates plaguing the areas of Lambata, Kafin-Koro, and Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.”

“They admitted even more, saying that kidnapped victims were imprisoned in the Gwalo forest.” Between the Lambata and Kafin-Koro areas, the DPO further mobilised and searched the Gwalo forest.

Abiodun said, “During the process, the tactical teams engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle in the forest, while the hoodlums fled from the hideout and abandoned seven victims—six males and one female—at the scene.

The victims were saved unharmed, transferred to FMC for medical attention, and reunited with their families, the statement continued.