The Nigeria Police Force has arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi, aka Mande, the alleged mastermind of Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
TheHintsNews reports that terrorists on 28 March, 2022 planted explosive devices along the rail track when the Abuja-Kaduna bound train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail.
The incident led to the death of eight passengers while others were kidnapped by terrorists.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while parading 68 suspects said Mande was arrested at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.
He said Mande confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji
Olumuyiwa said: “One of the major cases is the arrest of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, aka Mande at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction. The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.
“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
“Similarly, from the confessional statements of the suspects, on 28th of March, 2022, Ibrahim, alongside one Auwal Ayuba who was also paraded for kidnapping, and one Babangida Alhaji Bello were part of the armed group that attacked the train on its way from Abuja in the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna state, with several persons killed and others abducted.”
Olumuyiwa added that the sustained deployments along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and Kaduna state at large have led to massive successes in the fight against violent crimes in the state between January 2024 till date.
He noted that a strategic initiative implemented along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway was the deployment of a helicopter as an escort for trains traversing the route.
This measure, the force Spokesperson said served as both a deterrent to criminal elements and a rapid response mechanism in the event of any untoward incidents, ultimately enhancing security along the corridor and in the state at large.
Olumuyiwa stated: “The relentless efforts of the Nigeria Police Force have yielded remarkable outcomes, including the arrest of 81-armed robbery suspects, 40 kidnap suspects, 73 murder/homicide suspects, 36 rape suspects, 22 suspects involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 suspects engaged in other criminal activities.
“Similarly, the Police has successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types, along with 686 ammunitions of diverse calibres.
“Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizers. A total of N3,350,000, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed.”
Olumuyiwa revealed that the majority of the suspects have been charged to court, adding that the parade, however, comprised of 63 suspects who are yet to be prosecuted.