Taraba police arrests 28 suspects, guns for former Takum LG boss over murder of Legislator 

Taraba police arrests 28 suspects, guns for former Takum LG boss over murder of Legislator 

By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

Taraba State police command has confirmed the arrest of 28 suspects for various crimes including abductors of Varsity students students in the State.

The State Commissioner of Police CP. David  Iloyanomon who disclosed this at a press briefing in Jalingo on Thursday disclose that the command is also in dear of the former Chairman of Takum Local government area Mr Shiban Tikari, in connection with the 2017 murder of a member of the State House of Assembly Mr Hosea Ibi who is currently on the run.

Two suspects in the murder Ibi were last month sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Legislator and all the suspects confessed that Tikari was the one who asked them to kidnap and murder him, prompting the Judge to ask for his arrest.

Iloyanomon disclosed that the command has also recovered large cache of arms and ammunition as well as a Tricycle, charms, 102 cows, motorcycle and other items.

“There is no doubt that the Police Command, leveraging the support and cooperation of security agencies in the state and the good people of Taraba State, have worked assiduously to fight head-on all forms of criminality with remarkable achievements. Some of them are presented below.

“Police operatives attached to Gembu Division arrested one Abdulkarim Ibrahim at Perogal Tunga village in Sardauna LGA. Suspect who has been terrorizing villages in the Local Government confessed to have been involved in several kidnappings. Investigation is ongoing in order to arrest his cohorts. Operatives of the Anti- Kidnapping team arrested one Garba Yahaya ‘m’ of Ali Yola village, Gassol LGA and one Abdullahi Usman Mohammed ‘m’ of Angwan Galadima, Yola town. The suspects confessed to have been involved in series of kidnapping in Gassol LGAand have collected six million nine hundred naira from one Alhaji Bugga.  

“A joint team of police operatives from the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad in conjunction with a local vigilante group, arrested one Laulo Alhaji Adamu ‘m’ of Bamanda Village Lau LGA, a notorious kidnapper who has been terrorizing Jimlari and Marraraban Kunini villages. The suspect has confessed to the commission of series of Kidnapping. Investigation is ongoing to arrest his gang members and bring them to justice”.

The Commissioner said that other criminal suspects were arrested for other various crimes including culpable homicide, armed robbery, illegal possession of arms, cyber crimes, banditry, criminal conspiracy and theft and cattle rustling.

Iloyanomon further disclose that the Inspector General of police have given special commendation to some officers of the command who turned down a bribe of ₦8,000,000 while on patrol and urged other officers to emulate them for their professionalism. 

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“An act of professionalism exhibited by policemen at kwanti-napu checkpoint, The Inspector general of police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun phd,npm awarded Ap no:246517 Inspr Usman Haruna, Ap No:362385 Inspr Ngamarju Gambo, Ap no:362424 Inspr Difference Tih and F/no:517199 Cpl Zarudeen Mamuda, personnel attached to 40 PMF Jalingo, Taraba State as best patrol team of the year. That on 29/01/2024, at about 1100hrs the officers intercepted Toyota starlet ash in color with registration number YLA 321 conveying three passengers. A search was conducted in the vehicle and the sum of eight million, five hundred and fifty five thousand was recovered in their possession, and the culprit offered the whole amount as bribe in other to allow them go but the officers rejected it. This act of professionalism and integrity is highly commendable as it is in line with zero-tolerance to corruption as enjoined by the Inspector General of Police. 

“Let me use this medium to thank the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas for his commitment to combating crime and all forms of criminality in the state and his continuous support to security agencies in ensuring that the state is peaceful and conducive for all to go about their businesses.

“Finally, Taraba State Police Command will continue to remain committed to upholding law and order. We commend the dedication of our officers and men and also urge the public to continue to cooperate with the police at all levels and volunteer vital information to aid the fight against crime”