By Edito By our correspondent
The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, says it has arrested a suspected informant to kidnappers and recovered a N10 million ransom, an AK-47 rifle and 18 rounds of ammunition in Falgore Forest.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, CSF Usman Abdullahi Umar, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Umar said the suspect, identified as Ibrahim Rabi’u, 28, was arrested on Oct. 16 at about 5 p.m. by operatives of the service’s Doguwa Division, in collaboration with the Doguwa Police Division.
He said the suspect, a native of Kubaune Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was residing in Yar’Doka village within Falgore Forest.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly provided information to kidnappers concerning Alhaji Kabiru, a resident of Falgore town, who was abducted on Oct. 12.
It said Kabiru, after his rescue, identified the suspect as one of those who allegedly supplied him with food and water while he was held captive in the forest, adding that the suspect sometimes beat him.
The statement said the victim’s family was scheduled to pay the ransom on Oct. 16, prompting the operatives to lay an ambush at the designated collection point in the forest.
It added that after the family dropped the ransom and left, the suspected kidnappers arrived to collect it, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the operatives.
According to the statement, some of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
The operatives reportedly recovered an AK-47 rifle, 18 rounds of live ammunition and the N10 million ransom allegedly abandoned by the fleeing suspects.
The statement said the recovered ransom had been returned to Kabiru, while the suspect and the recovered exhibits were handed over to the police for further investigation.
It added that after preliminary investigations by the Doguwa Police Division, the suspect and exhibits were transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Section in Kano for further investigation and efforts to apprehend other members of the suspected gang.
The NFSS State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, commended the operatives of the Doguwa Division and the police for their efforts in the operation.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and combating criminal activities in forest areas.
(NAN)
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