Police apprehend three kidnappers, motorcycle snatchers in Taraba

The Taraba State police command said they have traced and arrested three members of a notorious kidnapping gang and motorcycle snatchers.

The suspects, who were identified as Abubakar Usman, Yahaya Usman, and Ali Mohammed, were arrested in Takum local government council of the state.

“In continued effort to eliminate crime from the state, and acting on credible information, a team of police operatives attached to Takum Division in conjunction with local hunters, on 30/04/2025 at about 1445hrs, traced and arrested the following suspects; Abubakar Usman, Yahaya Usman, and Ali Mohammed,” the command said.

The statement, which was made available to journalists on Friday by the Command’s acting spokesperson, James Leshen, said “the arrest followed credible information received on 20/02/2025 regarding the suspicious presence of a group of young men indulging in lavish spending at hostels and brothels for over two months in Takum, without any known source of income.”

“Police operatives kept them under surveillance for two months, enabling them to trace their respective residences”, Leshen announced.

Upon interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to the kidnapping of one Alhaji Yau Buri of Kasuwan Haske, in Takum, on 20/04/2025 at about 0730hrs.

They were also said to have admitted to have collected a ransom of N1,500.000, as well snatched the victim’s motorcycle at gunpoint.

Overwhelmed by the achievements, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel S. Brete, in the release, urged all residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing useful information to help combat criminal activities across the state, emphasizing that “Taraba State must enjoy relative peace.”

Police apprehend three kidnappers, motorcycle snatchers in Taraba