The Taraba State Police Command has outlined its achievements over a period of one month in its effort to ensure that crime and all forms of criminalities are reduced to a bearable limit.

In a statement issued in Jalingo, ASP David Misal, Police Public Relations Officer of the Command said the achievements were recorded by officers and men of the Command consequent upon the marching order given by the Commissioner of Police (CP) David Akinremi to embark on massive manhunt of criminals operating within the state.

Subsequently, operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) acting on reliable intelligence on October 15 arrested one Sani Hashimu and Yahaya Musa of Mutum-Biyu in Gassol LGA.

According to the Police the two suspects were picked up as passengers by one Iliyasu Bashir on his motorcycle but while on their way along Donga Nyivu village road, the cyclist was stabbed on the back by the two men and his motorcycle taken away.

The Command also disclosed that it arrested a member of a notorious ‘Ghana’ criminal gang. “It would be recalled that on the 22 of October, there was an armed robbery attack along Wukari -Takum road during which one Yamaduwe Antyo who was the second in command to the most wanted notorious militia gang leader aka Ghana, was killed in a gun duel with operatives of the Nigeria Police attached to Takum Division and a G3 rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition was recovered.

“The Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Taraba State Command determined to uncover the co-perpetrators of the attack, embarked on intensive information and intelligence gathering. Consequently, the above named suspect was arrested in his hide out. He confessed to be one of the armed bandits who had a shootout with the Police and also confirmed being a member of the ‘Ghana’ militia group.”

Assorted criminal charms and other incriminating items were said to have been found in his possession.

Similarly, on the 23 of October, Police operatives attached to Wukari Division acting on reliable intelligence report, arrested a three-man gang namely: Dantala Idi, Naziru Jafaru, a staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Taraba State Command and Yakubu Abubakar.

The suspects confessed to be responsible for kidnapping activities and other heinous crimes in the Bantaje, Gidin Doruwa and Wukari axis. Police investigation further revealed that, the suspects are members of a kidnapping syndicate, which attacked one Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Chief of Bantaje in an effort to kidnap him and also set blaze his Honda Hennessey vehicle. Similarly, the gang was also responsible for robbing one Yahaya Suleiman on the same date where his Laptop valued N80, 000 was catered away by them.

The police said the suspects also confessed that they had, on October 10 attacked one Zakari Madi and also set his motorcycle ablaze, adding that in furtherance to their criminal activities, it was further gathered that the gang had on several occasions sent threatening messages and collected large sums of money from innocent individuals.

The Taraba State Police Command continued their exploits on October 24, when operatives of SARS of the Command after a painstaking intelligence gathering, arrested one Nasiru Ibrahim and Tukura Abdulahi, both of Sabongari village Ardo-Kola LGA.

The two suspects were accused of having called one Alhaji Mohammed Adamu of Mallam Boyi village, Iware ward and demanded that he drop a sum of N2 million at a location and if he failed to comply he would be kidnapped.

“The telephone number used by the hoodlums was tracked and this led to the arrest of the two suspects. Further investigation revealed that the two men belonged to a kidnapping, which had in the past been responsible for a number of kidnap cases in Ardo-Kola LGA.”

On the 26 of October, “operatives of SARS in the state while on patrol along Mayo-Dassa area of Jalingo, intercepted a three man gang of burglars at about 02 00am. When cordon and search was carried out, three cutlasses, two battle axes, three knives and three face masks were recovered in a bag in possession of one of the suspects. Investigation further revealed that the three man criminal gang namely, Mansur Musa, Moradi Albat and Monday came from Mayo-Belwa in Adamawa State to carry out house breaking and burglary particularly in Jalingo Metro and its environs. Their confession led to the arrest of one Sgt. Bitrus Maisalati attached to works department in the Command said to be their accomplice. Further investigation had led operatives for some of the houses where they had earlier carried out their heinous activities.”

Furthermore, Police operatives attached to Mutum-Biyu Division while on surveillance apprehended one Johnson Yusuf and Angela Cosmos resident of Mutum-Biyu on the 10 of November. The Police said the two men were being monitored over a period of time until their arrest while planning to kidnap one Alhaji Isa Ahmadu and Alhaji Mohammed Tumba whom they had earlier called on telephone, stating their plan to kidnap them if a certain sum of money was not made available to them. The two suspects on investigation admitted the plan to kidnap and the handset/telephone number used to demand for ransom was recovered.

Also, men of the Nigerian Army on the 10 of November at a military check-point at the city gate in Jalingo, intercepted a Honda saloon car with registration number Kano AA 101 KNN driven by one Micah Awin. When the vehicle was searched, three assorted fire arms namely, one AK47 rifle with 50 live ammunition, one Lar rifle with empty magazine and one Baretta rifle were recovered. The suspect who was handed over to the Command on further interrogation, confessed to have been involved in arms dealing for a while. His confession led to the recovery of one G3 rifle by operatives of the Command.

“The Police in Sunkani Division on the 12 of November arrested two students of Taraba State University namely Samuel Abari and Ayuba David both male based on a reported case of rape by one Rita Seth of Sunkani. The rape victim was met at a farm where she was working by the two suspects who forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. The two suspects confessed to the crime and would be arraigned in court soon.”