Police arrest killer of ex-Governor Suswam’s brother, 55 other crime suspects in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has paraded 61 suspected criminals arrested for various crimes in the state including a member of the gang responsible for the gruesome murder of Terkula Suswam, the brother of former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam.

Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Lafia on Friday, July 23, the Commissioner of Police, AIG Bola Longe, said the suspects included six suspected hired assassins, 2 railway vandals, 38 suspected cultists, 5 kidnappers and 8 robbery suspects.

Longe said the suspected assassins had concluded plans to strike at some locations in Karu Local Government Area of the state and eliminate some persons.

“Sequel to credible information at the disposal of the Police command, which indicated that, a group of dare-devil robbers/assassins had concluded plans to strike at some locations within Karu LGA and eliminate their victims in the process. They intended carrying out this atrocious act around Uke, Nyanya Gwandara areas and along Keffi-Abuja express road. Consequently, the Police Command raised a formidable team of detectives and operational personnel as a proactive step to prevent them from actualizing their aim and also arrest these criminal elements,” Longe stated.

The police boss further said: “This measure paid off on 2/7/2021 at about 1930hrs, when a vehicle conveying the syndicate, comprising seven members were trailed and blocked at a spot along Keffi- Abuja road and the suspected occupants of the vehicle namely: (i) Paul Aba (ii) Fredrick James (iii) Tersoo Zugu (iv) Saalumun Waako A.k.A Osama (v) Kenneth Samuel (vi) Simon Achano all males were arrested, while the 7th member of the gang escaped.

“Consequently, a thorough search of the suspect’s vehicle and their criminal hide-out was conducted and the following exhibits recovered: two Berreta pistols, three Volkswagen Golf cars which they admitted were bought from the proceeds of their nefarious activities and deployed for criminal activities.

“However, a preliminary investigation has revealed that one of the suspects, Saalumun Waako is a member of the criminal gang responsible for the gruesome killing of one Terkula Suswam, said to be an elder brother to Senator Gabriel Suswam on March 2, 2021, at Ayin village, Logo LGA of Benue State.

“The suspect (Saalumun Waako) who has also been on the wanted list of Benue Police Command for offences ranging from kidnapping, homicide to armed robbery has however been handed over to Benue State Police Command for further investigation. Meanwhile, investigation is being intensified at State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia,” he added.

The CP also paraded some vandals who had been in the business of buying and selling railway tracks and slippers in the state.

He said: “In continuation of the Police Command’s relentless operations against railway tracks/slippers vandals, spearheaded by the Anti-kidnapping unit of the Command, one Isah Abubakar ‘M’ 48 yrs of Mada station, Nasarawa Eggon LGA was arrested on 15/07/2021 at about 0220hrs. A stock pile of vandalized rail tracks/slippers was discovered in his house,”

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and led the Police to arrest one Osaji Anthony `m` 55yrs, the Principal Technical Officer (PTO), Nigerian Railway Corporation office at Mada Station as the person that sold the vandalized rail tracks/slippers to him at the rate of fifty-five thousand naira (N55,000) only.

Police operatives also arrested a 100L student of Nasarawa State University and an accomplice for criminal conspiracy, fraudulent transaction and unlawful possession of fake currency.

“On 4/6/2021 about 2000hrs, a distress call was received from a Point Of Sale operator (POS) that, one Hussaini Alidu “M” 25 yrs, a one hundred level student of Nasarawa State University, Faculty of Agriculture, Lafia and Yushau Hudu “M” 32 yrs came to her P.O.S stand around College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia to deposit the sum of fifty thousand naira (#50,000) but she discovered eight pieces of fake naira notes in one thousand naira denomination (N1,000) out of the amount given, and when she objected to the inclusion of the fake currency, the suspects became wild and started pouring invectives on her.

Upon receipt of the information, Police personnel attached to Area Command, Lafia moved immediately to the scene and got the suspects arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of more suspects namely: Abubakar Bala, Yahaya Ahmed, Sunday Agbougwu, Chinonso Igweonwu and Arinze Nwite and a total sum of seven million, eight hundred thousand naira (N7, 800,000) counterfeit currency (all in one thousand naira denomination) were subsequently recovered from them. In addition to this, a total sum of one million, ten thousand Dollars ($1,10,000,000) all in hundred dollars bills were recovered from the same suspects as exhibits.

The counterfeit currencies recovered have been taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria for further necessary action as investigation continues at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.

On 30/6/2021 about 0700hrs, a complaint was lodged at Assakio Divisional Police headquarters by a resident of the area that, on the aforementioned date at about 0100hrs, gunmen numbering about three invaded his residence at ungwan Ben, Assakio and kidnapped his son (Mohammed Yahaya Abdulkarim)

Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police officer, Assakio swiftly mobilized his men to the scene, chased the criminals to their hideout and eventually succeeded in arresting one of the kidnappers named Abdul Qayyumu Adamu “M” as he tried to escape on a motorcycle.

e admitted to being a member of the gang of kidnappers who perpetrated the dastardly act and led the Police to arrest another member of the gang named Ahdamu Adamu “M” of Assakio town. One AK47 riffle, one motorcycle and one GSM hanset were recovered from them as exhibits. Investigation is ongoing at State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia.

On 20/06/2021 at about 1915hrs, information was received that one Uba Abdullahi “M” of Wamba road, Akwanga was kidnapped along Akwanga-Ningo expressway by unknown gunmen.

Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Akwanga in conjunction with the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Police Command swung into action. The search yielded results on 21/06/2021 at about 1215hrs when one Usman Aliyu “M” of Ruga Nunu, Ningo Sambe was arrested in connection to the crime and he mentioned his accomplices.

A thorough manhunt for other members of the criminal gang led to the arrest of Husaan Aliyu “M” on same date at about 0300hrs while Muhammed Adamu was arrested on 02/072021. Upon interrogation, the suspects all confessed to the commission of the offence.

One Dane gun and dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them as exhibits. Investigation is being intensified with a view to arrest and bring to justice all members of this criminal gang.