Ex-councillor, 3 others nabbed over kidnap of Kogi governor Bello’s mother

Former councillor of Okene Local Government Area, Iliyasu
Suleiman, has been arrested by the Inspector-General of Police
Intelligence Response Unit,IRT, over alleged connection with the
kidnap of the mother of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, three
years ago.

Arrested with the politician, Illyasu Suleiman, were two
suspected members of his gang, alleged to have been responsible for
several other kidnaps and robberies in Kogi, Abuja and Niger.

During preliminary investigation, Suleiman, according to the
Police, was discovered to be leader of one of the gangs that had
been terrorising the three states and mastermind of the governor’s
mother’s kidnap.

Arrest

His arrest, according to the Force Public Relations Officer,
Chief Superintendent Jimoh Moshood, was made following an earlier
arrest of a suspected notorious robber and kidnap kingpin, Danjuma
Ibrahim, who revealed the gang’s operations in Kogi, Abuja and
Niger.

He was said to have also confessed to the kidnap of the governor
Bello’s mother .

Recall that the governor’s mother was kidnapped three years ago
during which her abductors demanded for N35 million ransom for her
release.

However, our reporter gathered, she was later released after N20
million ransom was paid.

CSP Jimoh said: “Following his confession on several robberies
and kidnappings in Kogi State, Abuja, and Niger States, including
the kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in Okene, Kogi
State in 2014, the IRT teams were deployed to Kogi State, during
which three additional members of the deadly gang were arrested in
Okene.

“They are Iliyasu Suleiman, 44, a native of Okene town and
former councillor in Okene Local Government Area. He is the gang
leader of those that kidnapped Governor Yaya Bello’s mother.

“After a painstaking investigation, his confession led to the
arrest of Iliyasu Obadaki, alias Doctor, 35 years, in Okene. He is
a member of Suleiman’s gang.”

Recovered weapons

Weapons recovered from the suspects, according to Moshood,
included two AK-47 rifles, 20 live cartridges, one Army camouflage
inner wear, two Army camouflage pair of trousers and two Army
camouflage caps.

Also, one black berret, two plastic guns, three sharp knives,
one axe and assorted charms were also recovered from them.

Moshood said: “All suspects arrested have confessed to the
kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in 2014 and many other
robberies and kidnappings in FCT, Kogi and Niger States.”

Former councillor of Okene Local Government Area, Iliyasu
Suleiman, has been arrested by the Inspector-General of Police
Intelligence Response Unit,IRT, over alleged connection with the
kidnap of the mother of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, three
years ago.

Arrested with the politician, Illyasu Suleiman, were two
suspected members of his gang, alleged to have been responsible for
several other kidnaps and robberies in Kogi, Abuja and Niger.

During preliminary investigation, Suleiman, according to the
Police, was discovered to be leader of one of the gangs that had
been terrorising the three states and mastermind of the governor’s
mother’s kidnap.

Arrest

His arrest, according to the Force Public Relations Officer,
Chief Superintendent Jimoh Moshood, was made following an earlier
arrest of a suspected notorious robber and kidnap kingpin, Danjuma
Ibrahim, who revealed the gang’s operations in Kogi, Abuja and
Niger.

He was said to have also confessed to the kidnap of the governor
Bello’s mother .

Recall that the governor’s mother was kidnapped three years ago
during which her abductors demanded for N35 million ransom for her
release.

However, our reporter gathered, she was later released after N20
million ransom was paid.

CSP Jimoh said: “Following his confession on several robberies
and kidnappings in Kogi State, Abuja, and Niger States, including
the kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in Okene, Kogi
State in 2014, the IRT teams were deployed to Kogi State, during
which three additional members of the deadly gang were arrested in
Okene.

“They are Iliyasu Suleiman, 44, a native of Okene town and
former councillor in Okene Local Government Area. He is the gang
leader of those that kidnapped Governor Yaya Bello’s mother.

“After a painstaking investigation, his confession led to the
arrest of Iliyasu Obadaki, alias Doctor, 35 years, in Okene. He is
a member of Suleiman’s gang.”

Recovered weapons

Weapons recovered from the suspects, according to Moshood,
included two AK-47 rifles, 20 live cartridges, one Army camouflage
inner wear, two Army camouflage pair of trousers and two Army
camouflage caps.

Also, one black berret, two plastic guns, three sharp knives,
one axe and assorted charms were also recovered from them.

Moshood said: “All suspects arrested have confessed to the
kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in 2014 and many other
robberies and kidnappings in FCT, Kogi and Niger States.”