Police arrest kidnap kingpin, parade other suspects in Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command, on Wednesday, revealed the success of a major operation to combat rising criminal activities in the state, parading a kidnapping kingpin and other criminals arrested.

Briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Jalingo, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, highlighted the increasing security concerns in the state, which include kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cattle rustling, and culpable homicide.

He said the operation was on the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who encouraged community-based and intelligence-led policing.

Parading the suspects including suspected kidnappers terrorising Jauro Ganah, Yola Electricity Distribution Company transformer vandals, and suspected armed robbers, Eribo highlighted the importance of collaborating with vigilantes and other security agencies.

He also announced the arrest of a notorious kidnapping gang leader, Badon Linus, who he said had confessed to leading a syndicate responsible for high-profile operations including the kidnapping of the third-class chief of Pupule, a pastor and others.

In another operation, the Anti-Kidnapping squad, in collaboration with vigilantes also arrested suspects connected to the recent kidnapping of five victims in Runde village.

He said a team of mobilke policemen arrested one Aliyu Mohammed with a substantial amount of cash, phones, unused MTN recharge cards, and amulets, adding that “the suspect attempted to bribe the police but was apprehended”.

He assured the public that the command remains committed to ensuring safety and security in the state and is prepared to deal decisively with any threats to peace.