How We Operate with Just One AK47 - Kidnappers of Kaduna Priests Confess to Police

 

The Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team which conducted a raid on hideouts used by suspected kidnappers in Kaduna state, has led to the arrest of some suspected kidnappers believed to have masterminded of the abduction of three clergy men at Dutse Village in Kadua State some 8 weeks ago.

 

It was widely reported that the kidnappers who had abducted Rev. Emmanuel Dziggan, Rev. Illiya Anto and Rev. Yakubu Dzarma of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, demanded N100m for their release.

 

The members of the gang of abductors who were involved are identified as Kashimu Shehu (aka Baliago, said to be the leader of the gang), Aliyu Haruna, Muhammedu Mamman, Hassan Bello, Bala Mohammed and Ishiaku Kabiru.

 

It was learnt that two of the suspects, Haruna and Bello, were arrested at the naming ceremony organised by their gang leader, Shehu, at Gidan Kasimu, Mai-Yahsi Village, in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government area of Kaduna State, and they later provided information with which the police tracked down other members of the gang.

 

30-year-old Haruna, 30, in his statement to the police, said he is a Fulani man born in Katsina State but raised in Kaduna State.

 "When I went to deliver the food on my motorcycle, I saw Kasimu with an AK47 rifle in the bush. He promised to pay me N200,000 once the ransom  had been paid, but I was given just N1,000 when I delivered the food.  I know I committed a crime.  Muhammedu (Mamman), who is a cousin to Kasimu (Shehu) was the one guarding the hostage in the camp at the time," he said.

 

Bello, on the other hand, told the police that on April 14, he went with his gang members to kidnap a member of staff of the Presidential Villa, whom they later found praying on the side of the road.

"I don’t know who gave Kasimu (Shehu) information about the man. But after some days, we were paid a ransom of N1m before we released him.  I got N200,000 as my share and the only thing I did was to escort him when he was kidnapped to our camp,” he said.

 

Despite statements by other members of the gang identifying Shehu as the leader of the gang, the 27-year-old Fulani herdsman denied all the allegations.

 

 He said, "I am a native of Mai-Yahsi Village in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government Area of Kaduna State. I attended an Alamajiri School at Peleke-Tasher Tsamya Village, Zaria, Kaduna State. I am married with two wives and I have two children.