The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping gang accused of collecting ₦14 million in ransom after abducting 10 people along the Tegina-Makera road.
The suspects were identified as 23-year-old Aliyu Muhammad Bodo from Dutsen-gogo via Babana, New Bussa, and 22-year-old Tukur Hassan Ali from Bode-Saadu in Kwara State.
They were arrested on August 14 during a joint security operation involving police operatives and local vigilantes around Tanangi village forest, via Kasanga in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The operation was launched following a kidnapping incident in the area and resulted in the rescue of six victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said security operatives recovered two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 Android phones belonging to the victims, five keypad phones, a NIN slip, a brown bag and ₦1,045,200 from the suspects.
According to the police, the recovered money was allegedly part of the ransom collected from the victims.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to working with other members of the gang identified as Smallie, Tashaka, Dan-Sarki and Turo, who are still at large.
The suspects also allegedly told investigators that the gang kidnapped 10 people along the Tegina-Makera road and collected ₦14 million in ransom.
They further disclosed that the gang had access to one AK-47 rifle and three pump-action rifles, which they claimed were kept by their accomplices and used during kidnapping operations.
The police spokesman added that some of the rescued victims later identified the suspects during an identification parade at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna.
The two suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, with security operatives working to arrest other members of the alleged gang.
The command said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.
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