The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested nine suspected former police personnel for aiding and abetting cattle rustling, robbery and kidnapping in the North-East.
The suspects are: ASP Yuguda Abba, Sgt. Habila Sarki, Diphen Nimmyel, Sgt.Yasan Danda, Sgt.Abbas Mailalle, Sgt. Bwanason Tanko, Sgt. Donan James, CPL. Idris Salisu and CPL.Zakari Kofi.
A statement by the Force spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Don Awunah, said that the suspects had been subjected to internal disciplinary measures and punished according to the gravity of their Offences..
He said that the arrest, interrogation and confessions of the former policemen also led to the arrest of 19 principal suspects and recovery of many arms and ammunition.
Awunah said that items recovered from them included,14 AK 47 rifles, one Pump Action gun, one locally made pistol, 363 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition,71K2 live ammunition, 25 live cartridges.
In a related development, Awunah said a notorious armed robbery suspect, Alhaji Hodi Adamu, was also arrested by the police in October in Adamawa State.
He said the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of two other suspects namely, Rabo Bello and Oliver Honiol .
The spokesman added that their voluntary confessions led to the arrest of the nine Police personnel mentioned earlier.
He said the principal suspects and the dismissed police officers would soon be charged to court.
Awunah said that other arrests made by the police are: a kidnapper/ armed robbery suspect and four policemen in Kogi for aiding and abetting criminals.
He said items recovered from them are: One AK-47 Rifle! one G3 Rifle, one Baretta Rifle, one Assault Rifle, 10 7.62mm life ammunition, and two k2life ammunition.
Others are two AK-47 magazine, two K2 magazines and G3 magazine.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, commended police officers for ensuring that Nigeria was safe and secure especially at the flash points in the North-East, North Central and South-South (Niger Delta).
“Their sacrifices will not be in vain; they will be adequately rewarded.
He said the achievements were clear testimonies of inter-agency synergy between the police and other sister intelligence agencies.
“The process to progressively sanitise the system of unprofessional and criminally minded personnel will continue and will be sustained.
“The I-G is assuring all Nigerians of adequate security and commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to work assiduously to further reduce the rate of crime and criminality across the country, ” Awunah said.
He urged Nigerians to always be law abiding and see themselves as stakeholders in making the country safer and more secure.
