Police arrest 13 militia/kidnap gang terrorizing Minna-Bida-Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways (photos)

- The Nigeria Police Force has paraded some criminal elements that have been causing havoc for sometime

- The gangs have been terrorising Nigerians along the Minna-Bida-Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Tegina-Kaduna highways

- A large cache of prohibited arms and ammunition were recovered when the police moved in and raided all the identified criminal camps, kidnappers’ dens and hideouts

The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, January 24, paraded suspected criminals operating along the Minna-Bida-Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Tegina-Kaduna highways.

The criminals were apprehended following the efforts of the personnel of Niger state police command under the supervision of the commissioner of police, Niger state, to restore law and order in the communities mentioned and arrest the perpetrators.

NAIJ.com gathered that the joint team moved in and raided all the identified criminal camps, kidnappers’ dens and hideouts in the forest in Birnin-Gwari, Tegina, Alawa and Kabata town in Niger state.

Police parade 13 militia/kidnap for ransom and armed robbery gangs in Minna

Some of the gang members paraded on Wednesday, January 24. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

The operations reportedly lasted several days with intense exchange of fire between the police joint team and the gang. This resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects and recovery of a large cache of prohibited arms and ammunition.

The gangs were responsible for burning down a police post and killing two policemen late last year. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

“The gang confessed to have been responsible for the kidnap and slaught*ring of seven persons from a mosque at Kabata town under Rafin LGA of Niger state late last year.

“They also admitted to be responsible for the attack on a police post at Alawa town in Shiroro LGA of Niger state where the police post was burnt down and two policemen who were in a team on a rescue mission of some kidnapped victims were ambushed and killed by this militia gang," a statement sent to NAIJ.com by police spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said.

CSP Jimoh Moshood addressing journalists in Minna. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

The statement further said the gang leader, Lawal Maisaje a.k.a Lawal Kwali and his second in command Zakairu Mamman during interrogation confessed that they have killed more than 19 innocent people in the mentioned villages which include a father and his son after collection of ransom from most of the victims ranging from one million naira to three million naira.

Investigation is said to have being intensified to arrest other gang members still at large after which the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

The names of the Kidnapping/armed robbery/militia gang were given as;

Lawal Maisaje a.k.a Lawal Kwali ‘M’ 34-years-old - vicious kingpin and militia leader
Zakairu Mamman ‘M’ 40-years-old (The chief claughter of the militia)
Bitrus Yohanna ‘M’ 40-years-old
Ibrahim Makeri ‘M’ 35-years-old
Sule Kautoma ‘M’ 34-years-old
Ayuba Waya ‘M’ 25-years-old
Bako Makeri ‘M’ 42-years-old
Sale Bala ‘M’ 30-years-old
Abbas Mazadu ‘M’ 30-years-old
Jibrin Usman ‘M’ 40-years-old
Musa Akawu ‘M’ 35-years-old
Suleman Bawa ‘M’ 23-years-old
Ismail Yususf ‘M’ 25-years-old

The exhibits are;

Three (3) AK47 Rifles
Two (2) English pump action with breach
Ten (10) locally made single barrel guns
One (1) colt USA made pistol with breach no 574912013
One (1) revolver pistol
One (1) Single barrel pistol
Two (2) locally made revolver pistol
Two (2) Ak47 Magazines
Sixty Five (65) AK47 ammunition
Eighty Eight (88) live cartridges
Five (5) expended Live Ammunition
Eighteen (18) live ammunitions of .9mm
Five (5) fabricated live ammunitions of 7.9mm
Two (2) sharp knives
One (1) cutlass
Heaps of charms

Just last week, the Special Tactical Squad attached to Operation Absolute Sanity, arrested some gangs responsible for several kidnappings/armed robbery, cattle rustling and car snatching along the Abuja-Suleja-Bida-Minna highway.

NAIJ.com gathered that most of the suspects were arrested in the act after exchange of gun fire with the personnel of the IGP Special Tactical Squad attached to Operation Absolute Sanity in their hideouts along Abuja-Minna road.

According to police spokesman, CP Jimoh Moshood, the suspects confessed and admitted the various criminal roles they played in the committing of the crimes.

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