Ex-councillor, 3 others nabbed over kidnap of Kogi governor Bello’s mother

Former councillor of Okene Local Government Area, Iliyasu Suleiman, has been arrested by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Unit,IRT, over alleged connection with the kidnap of the mother of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, three years ago.

Arrested with the politician, Illyasu Suleiman, were two suspected members of his gang, alleged to have been responsible for several other kidnaps and robberies in Kogi, Abuja and Niger.

During preliminary investigation, Suleiman, according to the Police, was discovered to be leader of one of the gangs that had been terrorising the three states and mastermind of the governor’s mother’s kidnap.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Arrest

His arrest, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Jimoh Moshood, was made following an earlier arrest of a suspected notorious robber and kidnap kingpin, Danjuma Ibrahim, who revealed the gang’s operations in Kogi, Abuja and Niger.

He was said to have also confessed to the kidnap of the governor Bello’s mother .

Recall that the governor’s mother was kidnapped three years ago during which her abductors demanded for N35 million ransom for her release.

However, Vanguard gathered, she was later released after N20 million ransom was paid.

CSP Jimoh said: “Following his confession on several robberies and kidnappings in Kogi State, Abuja, and Niger States, including the kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in Okene, Kogi State in 2014, the IRT teams were deployed to Kogi State, during which three additional members of the deadly gang were arrested in Okene.

“They are Iliyasu Suleiman, 44, a native of Okene town and former councillor in Okene Local Government Area. He is the gang leader of those that kidnapped Governor Yaya Bello’s mother.

“After a painstaking investigation, his confession led to the arrest of Iliyasu Obadaki, alias Doctor, 35 years, in Okene. He is a member of Suleiman’s gang.”

Recovered weapons

Weapons recovered from the suspects, according to Moshood, included two AK-47 rifles, 20 live cartridges, one Army camouflage inner wear, two Army camouflage pair of trousers and two Army camouflage caps.

Also, one black berret, two plastic guns, three sharp knives, one axe and assorted charms were also recovered from them.

Moshood said: “All suspects arrested have confessed to the kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in 2014 and many other robberies and kidnappings in FCT, Kogi and Niger States.”