Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have dislodged a kidnapping syndicate that was terrorizing parts of Jalingo and Lau local government areas of the state and arrested two suspects
The spokesperson of the brigade, Captain Oni Olubodunde, said suspects arrested were identified as Ali Idi and Haruna Umar.
He said the suspects were apprehended on 22 October 2024 during a raid at a local hotel in the Mayo Dassa area of the Jalingo metropolis where they were hiding.
According to him, after a search of mobile phones of the suspects revealed incriminating evidence, including a photograph showing Haruna one of the suspects brandishing an AK-47 rifle alongside another individual at an unidentified location.
Captain Oni stated further that Further investigations led to the discovery of the hide out of the suspects at Kona Mountain in Jalingo LGA, where additional members of the syndicate were believed to be camped.
He said the arrest followed an intelligence report to the troops for which a follow-up operation was conducted at Kona Mountain on 23 October 2024, and during the exercise, the leader of the gang, Dahiru Idi, AKA (Yellow), was apprehended.
Captain Oni revealed that on interrogation, the gang leader confessed to the recent kidnapping of three individuals, from whom a ransom of 6 million Naira was extorted before their release.
The gang leader further disclosed that the two AK-47 rifles used in their operations had been taken to another location by one Yakubu Dogo in preparation for an upcoming operation.
The Army spokesperson stated that items recovered from the suspects include three rings, one Airtel SIM card, one ITEL phone, Indian hemp, and charms.
Meanwhile the Commander 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, thanked the people of Taraba state for their support the troops in their operation and also commended the troops for their determination to flush out criminal elements in the state.
