Police nab 28 suspects for various crimes in Taraba

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

Operative of the Nigeria Police Force, Taraba State command, has paraded 28 suspects for various crimes across the state from March to April.

The suspects include a fake police officer, who was arrested for involvement in aiding criminals in the State.

Taraba State Commissioner of Police, David Iloyonomon on Thursday disclosed this while parading suspects in Jalingo, the State capital, appealed to residents of the State to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the fight against crime by providing credible information to enable the force to serve them better.

"On 22/03/2024, Police operatives attached to Gembu Division arrested one Abdulkarim Ibrahim at Perogal Tunga village in Sardauna LGA. The suspect who has been terrorizing villages in the Local Government confessed to having been involved in several kidnappings. 

"On 01/04/2024 at about 2246hrs, one Ahmed Debat 'm' of Federal University Wukari, reported at Wukari Division that, on same date at about 2130hrs, unknown gunmen invaded one Eatery belonging to one Moses Innocent Lyntapwa 'm' of Ranok Estate along Zaki-Biam/Wukari road and kidnapped two of his workers namely; (1) Joshua Sardauna 'm' and Chichi 'f all students of Federal University to unknown destination.

"On 04/04/2024 Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping team arrested one Garba Yahaya 'm' of Ali Yola village, Gassol LGA and one Abdullahi Usman Mohammed 'm' of Angwan Galadima, Yola town. The suspects confessed to having been involved in a series of kidnappings in Gassol LGA and have collected six million nine hundred naira from one Alhaji Bugga. The sum of eight hundred and fifty thousand and two live cartridges was recovered.

"On 11/04./2024, a team of Police detectives attached to the State Intelligence Department (SID), Taraba State Command arrested one Mohammed Ismail 'm' 32years old, for posing as a police officer and defrauded, by way of extorting gullible and high-profile personalities. 

"Investigation has also revealed that his phone contains police signals of postings and transfers of both junior and senior officers which he uses to deceive unsuspecting victims. Other indicting evidence against the suspect is the pictures in his phone gallery, where he dressed in police uniform, mostly camouflage, posing with AK47 riffle, Berretta, Pistol and other police accoutrements to intimidate people. A toy gun was recovered. The case is still under investigation to arrest his collaborators within and outside the Police Force.

"Taraba State Police Command will remain committed to upholding law and order. We commend the dedication of our officers and men and also urge the public to continue to cooperate with the police at all levels and volunteer vital information to aid the fight against crime", he said.