DSS parades kidnappers in military uniform

 The Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, in Kogi State, Wednesday paraded four suspected kidnappers terrorising the state in recent time. The DSS said it has in couple of weeks back also nabbed more than 10 other suspects, six of which they said have been arraigned in court, while this other four operating in full military combat uniforms will also be arraigned today. Parading the suspect before newsmen, The State Director of the command, Mr Joseph Okpo, disclosed that the four, who were member of the six-man gang operating along Abuja-Lokoja highway, were arrested last week; with his men still on the trail of the rest two. He said the arrested suspects; Haruna Saleh, Kabiru Shuaibu, Mumuni Adamu and Tukur Shuaibu, who specialised in robbery and kidnapping along the major roads had confessed to be involved in some operations on Maraba-Jos Road, Malufashi on Zaria-Kaduna and Jaji-Zaria Road all in full military uniform. He explained that the suspects were apprehended on there way from Kaduna axis to link up with another contact in Obajana, Kogi State; where they planned to engage in fresh operations. Okpo however said the suspects were already giving a very good lead on the source of their uniform, adding that the command had already liaised with the state command of the Nigeria Police to investigate the source of the military uniform. He added that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to have been involved in six operations between the Ramadan period and the day they were arrested. According to the SSS Director, investigation had revealed that most of the kidnappers operating in the state were from outside Kogi, lamenting that the people were taking advantage of the geographical location and the centralised route structure of the state which bordered nine other states and the FCT. He however pledged that the command would continue to cooperate with other security agencies to address the security challenges and take advantage of the renewed zeal of the state government to fight crime. Speaking with newsmen, leader of the kidnapped gang, Mumuni Adamu, stunned newsmen when he stated that the Army uniform was sold to them (by a yet to be identified okada man) for as low as N1,500. Adamu who said he bought three of the uniform for N4,500 and distributed to his gang members, said though they do hold guns during operation but it was just to threaten and not to be shot. Adamu who said he was a Nigeria from Kaduna State however begged for mercy, said he was ready to leave the kidnapping ‘profession’ he joined some years back and engaged in other meaningful venture.