For the records: Plateau Police give account of exploits

Press briefing by Plateau Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Chuka Egbuka, held Saturday 30th May, 2020 at the Police Command Headquarters, Jos
Gentlemen of the press, good afternoon. I am here to update you once more, on some of the recent achievements recorded by the Plateau State Police Command.
In my first press briefing with you, on 3/05/2020, after my assumption of office as the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State; I paraded before you one Ali Mohammed ‘m’, a suspected member of a dreaded gang of kidnappers who murdered one Dr Nandi Drenkat, a lecturer at the University of Jos, and kidnapped his seven (7) years old daughter. The deceased daughter was later rescued unhurt, after a gun battle between Police operatives assisted by local vigilante and hunters and the hoodlums.
2. In what I will refer to as ideal synergy with operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Plateau State, and in line with the Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Abubarkar Adamu, NPM mni, policy direction on restructuring of Community Policing; the operatives of DSS in Plateau State were able to track down two other members of this notorious gang of kidnappers, who had escaped the gun battle with the Police with bullet wounds. On interrogation by the DSS operatives, the suspects confessed to being part of the gang that murdered the lecturer and kidnapped his daughter. They took the operatives to their hideouts, where two (2) firearms were recovered. An AK 47 rifle with two (2) rounds of ammunition and a baretta pistol with seven (7) rounds of ammunition.
Interestingly, this baretta pistol was stolen from late Sergeant Jonathan Danladi ‘m’ of Laranto Division who had an encounter with this same dreaded gang of kidnappers in the early hours of 4th May 2020 at ECWA base Jos. The Police Sergeant, in a bid to rescue an eighteen (18) years old female victim of this gang was shot dead and his baretta pistol stolen. The same gang killed a DSS personnel on 30th December 2017, along Dong-Miango/Rukuba road in Jos North LGA. The suspects have confessed to several other kidnapping incidents, armed robberies and killings within Jos metropolis and Bassa LGA of the State from 2017 to date. The Command in Collaboration with other security agencies have launched an aggressive manhunt for other members of the gang still at large.
3. Arrest of two (2) suspected armed robbers: Again you will recall that on the 5th May 2020, at about 2040hrs, hoodlums invaded the residence of one Rev Canon Bayo James Femourune ‘m’ of Agape Mission, Messiah College, Gana Ropp Village in Barkin-Ladi LGA and in their bid to rob the victim and his family, shot him on the head and leg, the wife at her back, their son on the leg, and a guest of the family was also shot on his leg. The hoodlums escaped before the arrival of the Police and other security agencies. However, acting on a tip off, Police operatives at Barkin-Ladi arrested two of the suspects. One of the suspects has been identified by the victims. Investigation is ongoing and efforts being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang. Suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
4. Arrest of two (2) suspected kidnappers: On 9th May 2020, at about 0120hrs, information was received from Kanke Police Division that some unknown gunmen invaded the house of one Alhaji Ahmadu Jipji, and kidnapped him to unknown location. On receipt of the report, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) of the Command was moved to the area the kidnappers were suspected to have taken the victim to the hilly part of the Kanke town. Two of the suspected kidnappers were apprehended, and as a result, the others abandoned the victim who had been in the kidnappers den for eleven (11) days and fled. The frail looking victim was rescued unhurt. On interrogation, both suspects confessed to the crime. They will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.
5. Kidnapping and Culpable Homicide: On 28th April 2020, a case of kidnapping and culpable Homicide was transferred to the Command from the Special Task Force (STF), Operation Safe Havens (OPSH); a suspect, one Sylvester Isah ‘m’ was transferred along in connection with the abduction of one Abatcha Luguda ‘m’ of Bauchi Road, Jos, who was reported missing since 17th February 2020. The Anti-Kidnapping unit of the Command was detailed to carry out discreet investigation. The suspect gave useful information that led to the arrest of one of his accomplice. In the course of interrogation, the suspects admitted committing the crime. It turn out that the leader of the gang, one Uweni Stephen ‘m’ who is at large had sold land to the victim, and when the victim went to collect the document of the property, they waylaid him and killed him. The suspects took the Police to the hills along Zaria Road Jos where the victim was buried in a shallow grave. The decomposed body of the deceased was exhumed and identified by his family. Investigation is still in progress, suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
6. Criminal Conspiracy and Culpable Homicide: On 14/04/2020 at about 2100hrs, one Ardo Yahaya Abdullahi of Bisichi in Barkin-ladi was shot dead by some unknown gunmen.
However in the course of investigation, the brother of the deceased named Isah Abdullahi disclosed that, before his brother was murdered, he told him that he had been receiving threatening phone calls from one Yinusa Hussani, Yinusa Ado and Abbas Sani for always exposing their nefarious activities. Based on the strength of the revelation, five suspects had been arrested by the police in connection with the case and they confessed to the crime. Efforts are on top gear to arresting two other members of the gang who are still at large for prosecution after investigation is completed.
7. Personation: On 18/05/2020 at about 0800hrs the operatives of sector 6 Operation Safe Havens arrested one John Nanzing Ladong ‘m’ of Gero area in Jos South LGA of Plateau State dressed in full military desert camouflage uniform with a captain rank driving an Army green coloured Peugeot model 206 vehicle who was later transferred to Area Command Bukuru. Upon interrogation, it was established that the suspect was not a military personnel.
Further investigation and search conducted led to the recovery of the following items.
*One forged NAF ID card bearing *Flying Officer JJ Nanzing
*Two (2) machetes
*One jack knife
*Six (6) leave pass of Nigeria Army
*Twelve (12) pieces of Nigeria Army uniforms
*Three (3) pairs of Nigeria Air Force uniforms
*One Nigeria Navy trouser
*One Nigeria Immigration service camouflage trouser
*Two (2) pears of military boots
*One Nigeria Army Headquarters stamp
*Four (4) passports photograph of senior retired military officers
*Fifteen (15) Forcecom sim cards
*Four (4) Nigeria Army recruitment application forms and one Nigeria Navy recruitment form bearing different names
*Fake Vehicle particulars and other suspicious documents were recovered from him. Suspect will be charge to court as soon as investigation is over
8. Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapon: On 11/05/2020 at about 1600hrs Police Operatives attached to Anglo-Jos Division while on routine vehicular patrol along Starlite Hotel Abattoir Jos, arrested one Rotgak Bitrus aged 28 years ‘m’ of behind Vitaform Company Forest Jos, with one locally made pistol and a dagger. The case is under investigation.
9. Arrest of Notorious Armed Robbers: On 18/05/2020 at about 2130hrs Police surveillance patrol team attached to Anglo-Jos Division arrested two armed robbery suspects namely, John Michael and Dashut Simeon both ‘m’ of Gwarandok Shaka Abbatior, Jos with one locally made revolver pistol with rounds of 9mm live ammunition. The case is under investigation.
10. Unlawful Possession of Firearm: On 17/05/2020 at about 2100hrs police patrol team attached to Anglo-jos Division, arrested on Emmanuel Philemon ‘m’ of Gwarandok Shaka Abbatior, jos in possession of a locally made revolver pistol loaded with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition. The suspect was arrested alongside his accomplice, one Oguche Francis ‘m’ of the same address. The case is also under investigation.
11. In view of the foregoing, the Plateau State Police Command enjoins members of the public to remain vigilant, security conscious and continue to maintain the strong synergy with the police and other security agencies through volunteering of credible information that would lead to the arrest of criminal elements on the Plateau. Any strange face or suspicious person within the Communities should be immediately exposed by informing the police. The Command has emplaced adequate security arrangements that will guarantee the security of lives and properties in the State. The fight against criminals in the state is total.
12. Accordingly, criminal elements are advised in their own interest to either retrace their steps and desist from their unholy acts or relocate from the state as they risk being arrested and prosecuted.
Thank you and God bless.