The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a criminal syndicate who ‘posed as EFCC operatives,’ allegedly robbed students of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa and abducted one Adudu Kingsley, an ND II student.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, said a fleeing member of the alleged 4-man robbery and kidnapping syndicate, was caught and beaten mercilessly by an angry mob before the arrival of the police.
According to the PPRO, the suspect was rescued from the mob by the police and rushed to Primary Health Care, Laminga, where he died while receiving treatment.
The remaining three suspects, Hyelda Aliyu Ibrahim, Henry Patrick Okwu and Shuaibu Abubakar, all residents of Customs Quarters and Up Market area of Masaka, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State, who fled the scene were subsequently arrested.
“On 17/04/2024 at about 1545hrs, a distress call was received that four individuals posing as EFCC personnel, using a Toyota Corolla, Green in colour with registration number Abuja YAB 509 TT robbed some students of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa at Samakwe Lodge behind Government College, Nasarawa LGA and Abducted one Adudu Kingsley, an ND II Student of the same Polytechnic,” the statement read.
“Reacting to the unsavoury development, Police operatives gave the suspects a hot chase and a roadblock was mounted at Laminga junction to stop the suspects from escaping with the victim, but they hit the barrier and fled
“Furthermore, Police operatives at Anguwan Madugu were contacted to mount another roadblock, which the suspects sighted from a distance; abandoned their operational vehicle and the abducted student and fled
“Luck ran out of one of the suspects as he was caught and beaten mercilessly by an angry mob before the arrival of the Police while others fled
“The suspect was rescued from the mob by the Police and rushed to Primary Health Care, Laminga, where he died while receiving treatment.”
Nansel further stated that a search of the recovered vehicle yielded two identification cards linking the fleeing suspects to the syndicate.
Further investigation led to the arrest of three additional members: Hyelda Aliyu Ibrahim, Henry Patrick Okwu, and Shuaibu Abubakar (the operational driver).
Exhibits recovered include an iPhone 12 Pro Max, Huawei, and Tecno Spark 5, as well as fake EFCC ID cards.
“The suspects have confessed to being the syndicate responsible for robbing and terrorising student areas in Keffi and Nasarawa LGA
“Effort is ongoing to arrest one identified suspect that is at large. Victims of their nefarious activities have come forward and identified the suspects.”
“Effort is ongoing to arrest one identified suspect that is at large. Victims of their nefarious activities have come forward and identified the suspects.”
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Shehu Umar Nadada has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia for further investigations and assured that they will be charged to Court for prosecution once the investigation is concluded.
