How Sacked CSO Contacted Us To Kidnap Lecturers, Make ABU Insecure

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A security guard at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna
State, Abubakar Aliyu, has been arrested with two others, Abubakar
Yakubu aka Dogo and Isaa Kabiru aka Wicked, for the alleged
kidnapping of two lecturers in the institution,
According to PUNCH report ^[1].

The lecturers were identified as one Prof Ibrahim Bako and Dr
Abdulmumuni Ibrahim, said to be lecturers at the Faculty of
Medicine.

The gang also reportedly kidnapped Ibrahim’s two children as
well as one Ajiyah Ramatu and her son, Rabiu. It was learnt that
Ramatu and Rabiu were abducted at the sick bay unit of the
university.

City Round gathered that suspects were apprehended recently by
detectives attached to the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence
Response Team.

Police said the gang carried out six kidnappings in the
university and confessed to have been engaged by a former chief
security officer of the institution who is still at large.

A police source told our correspondent, “After a series of
complaints, the university management requested the intervention of
the IRT. During our investigations, we arrested Abubakar Yakubu aka
Dogo, an okada rider. He said a former chief security officer of
the university and one Bello, were the ones who invited him and his
gang to terrorise the university because the present VC removed him
(the CSO) from his position.”

Yakubu, who hails from Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna
State, said that he was introduced to kidnapping by one Sanusi
(also at large), adding that he got between N16,000 and N30,000
share each time a ransom was paid.

The 24-year-old father of three added that Sanusi lured him into
kidnapping on the promise that he would make a lot of money.

He said, “I dropped out from primary school and went into cattle
rearing. I bought a motorcycle and started operating around Samaru
town in ABU and ABU Teaching Hospital. I used to make close to
N3,000 daily. I went into kidnapping because of greed through
Sanusi.

“He told me that the okada business I was doing would not get me
enough money. I joined the gang and we kidnapped one pastor at
Sabua Local Government Area. We also kidnapped one Alhaji Mutair.
We followed him to his house and kept him at Kidandan Forest for
four days.

“I don’t know how much was paid as ransom. I wasn’t there when
the ransom was negotiated but I got N30,000 as my own share. I
bought food and clothes with the money. We also went for another
kidnapping in Kundu village in Giwa LGA and we kidnapped a man
whose name I don’t know. We followed the man to his house and it
was one Ballo Ahudu, our informant, who brought the job. We
kidnapped the man and took him to our camp where he spent 11 days
with us. I got N16,000 as my share of the ransom.”

Yakubu, who said their next operation was at ABU, stated that
they were contracted by a former CSO of the university. He claimed
that the ex-CSO contacted him through one Arbo Bello.

He said, “We had a meeting and the former CSO and Bello told us
that they wanted us to cause insecurity in the university because
the vice chancellor wasn’t ready to work with them and that there
were also lecturers and professors who were not happy with the new
VC. They wanted insecurity in the school so that the new VC would
not succeed.

“They told us nothing would happen if we carried out kidnapping
in the school. Six of us struck at the school in September 2020 and
we kidnapped two children of Dr. Abdulmumuni and took them to our
camp. They spent 13 days with us.

“Our gang leader, Alhaji Layi, was the person who negotiated the
ransom. I don’t know the amount that was paid but I got N30,000 as
my share. We then went to kidnap Ajiya Ramatu and her son and took
them to our camp where they were kept for 13 days. After the ransom
was paid, I was given N30,000.”

Yakubu said he was arrested at Biye village while another victim
they kidnapped was in their camp, adding that he led the police to
apprehend two other members of the gang.

The guard, 27-year-old Aliu, said he agreed to join the gang
because he was not happy about the former CSO’s sacking.

The father of four admitted to have participated in three of the
kidnappings and got a share of N550,000.

He said, “I am a security guard at ABU. I was employed in 2015
through the former CSO. I was not happy that the VC sacked him and
I decided to join him to destabilise the university. I was the
person that monitored the movement of all the kidnappers in the
university. I monitored three kidnappings. I got N550,000 for
participating in the kidnappings.”

Kabiru, 35, said he was a businessman and was not involved in
the kidnappings. He, however, said he used to buy stolen cows from
the gang.