Bandits Spiritual Consultant, Four Suspected Kidnappers Apprehended As Police Foil Plot To Abduct Worshippers In Abuja Church

The suspects

Umar Samaila, a spiritual consultant to bandits in Niger, FCT Abuja and Nasarawa State has been arrested by the Niger stated police command.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, November 22, said the spiritual leader was arrested in connection with a plot to kidnap some worshippers in an Abuja church.

"On 20/11/2021 at about 1120hrs, acting on a technical intelligence of a plan to kidnap some worshipers on 21/11/2021 in a Church at Buku village, Abaji area council of FCT Abuja," DSP Wasiu stated.

"Police operatives attached to Intelligence unit of Niger State Police Command arrested one Umar Samaila age 50yrs 'm' of Gussasu village via Maikunkele, Bosso LGA in connection to the purported crime

"During interrogation, the suspect confessed of being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating in Niger, FCT Abuja and Nasarawa States.

"During his last conversation with his gang on same date at about 0720hrs, he directed them to go ahead for the operation and assured them of success

"He also promised to pray for the release of a suspected bandit known as 'JULLI' currently in Police custody at Abuja. Suspect will be transferred to FCT Command, Abuja for further investigation."

The PPRO said that four other suspected kidnappers/cattle rustlers were also arrested and 40 cows recovered from them.

"On 16/11/2021 at about 1700hrs, information received from a credible source revealed that some suspected kidnapppers/cattle rustlers were sighted at Maijaki forest via Lapai and Rafindaji forest, boundary between Niger and FCT Abuja," the PPRO said.

On receipt of this information, a joint Police/vigilante attached to Lapai Division were mobilized to the forests and the following suspects were arrested with recovery of forty cows and fifteen sheep in their possession.

The suspects are: Abubakar Alh. Buba, 27, of Babana village, Borgu LGA, Shehu Mallam Jare, 20, of Rafindaji village via Lapai, Abubakar Garba, 44, and Abubakar Na'Allah, 25, of Maijaki village via Lapai.

During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be rearing cattle in the said forests but could not give satisfactory account of the cattle in their possession.

The case is under investigation while the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution immediately after investigation is concluded.

DSP Abiodun reassures members of the public that the command under the leadership of CP Monday Bala Kuryas, will not relent in the ongoing onslaught against crime and criminality in the State, while soliciting for cooperation of Nigerlites and residents of the state towards exposing suspected criminals in their communities.