Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested one of the suspected killers of Nabeeha Ariyo who was gruesomely murdered in a kidnappers’ camp, Kaduna on 13 January, 2024.
The suspect, Bello Mohammed, said to be a member of the notorious kidnappers operating at the Kaduna axis, was arrested on 20 January.
Nabeeha was kidnapped along with her siblings in Bwari, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on 2 January and was killed along with some other kidnapped victims, after ransom has been paid.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated in a press release that one of the suspected kidnappers, Bello Mohammed, was arrested in Kaduna.
He also stated in the release, Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ VOL.6/110, dated January 28, 2024, that the Police destroyed the bandits’ camp.
“The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, on 20th January 2024, have arrested one Bello Mohammed (28) of Zamfara State, in Kaduna.
“The Divisional Police Officer, Tafa Division, SP Idris Ibrahim, acting on intelligence, raided one hotel in Tafa Area, Kaduna, where he arrested Bello.
“He was arrested with the sum of #2.25m (Two Million, two hundred and fifty million naira) only, suspected to be proceeds of ransoms collected from kidnapped victims within the area.
“The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be part of the gang that kidnapped the family members of one Barrister Ariyo in Bwari, FCT, on 2 January 2024, and killed some kidnapped victims, including Nabeeha (f), daughter of the legal practitioner, on 13 January, 2024, in a kidnappers’ camp, in Kaduna State.
“The suspect, in a dramatic situation, offered #1,000,000 (one million naira only) to induce the DPO, who rejected the offer and carried out his duty diligently,” it was stated in the release.
The suspect also confessed to the involvement of the already five neutralized bandits in Kaduna by the IRT, headed by one Mai Gemu (aka Godara), whose deadly camp has also been destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered that the suspect be handed over to the DFI-IRT in Abuja for discreet investigations into the matter and arrest of all other culprits responsible for the dastardly act.
ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi further disclosed that the suspect is currently helping the Police in their investigations.
IGP Egbetokun commended the DPO Tafa, SP Idris Ibrahim, for the commitment and professionalism displayed in the case.
He further assured that the Police would leave no stone unturned in decimating criminally-minded individuals and bequeathing to Nigerians a more secure society for all and sundry in the country.