The Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Unit has arrested 14 deadly kidnappers and armed robbers operating along the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway.
According to available information, the suspects were responsible for the gruesome murder of Dr. Ibrahim Mailafia, a senior lecturer with the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, on November 3, 2017.
Malaria had just obtained a Doctorate Degree on Artificial intelligence from the United Kingdom and was on his way to Kano to celebrate with his family when he was allegedly killed by the suspects.
Recovered from the suspects were two AK47 Rifles, a pistol and the victim’s phone.
It was gathered that the arrest was in continuation of the mandate of “Operation Absolute Sanity” launched by the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, for safer highways in the country.
After the killing of Malaria, the Tactical Intelligence Unit generated technical intelligence about those responsible for the dastardly act.
They were also found to be the ones terrorising motorists along Niger-Abuja and Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressways.
A Special Team of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in an unrelenting follow up eventually arrested 14 confirmed members of the kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate, including the receivers of their robbed cars.
The all male gang members arrested are:
Sunday Jatau, 35, and native of Kaduna State, who is said to be the leader of the gang. He confessed to have personally shot and killed Dr. Mailafia. Solomon Jatau, 40, brother to the gang leader.
Ayuba Jatau, 32, also younger brother to the gang leader. Ishaku Luka, aka Dogo, who sells arms and ammunitions to the gang. He is said to be 42 and a native of Kujama LGA of Kaduna State. Ibrahim Daniel, 27, native of Chad Republic, who was found in possession of the late Dr. Mailafia’s phones, among others.
All the suspects were said to have been arrested in Kaduna and Zaria and have confessed to several armed robberies, kidnappings and murders on the highways in Kaduna, Kano and Niger States.
Two AK47 Rifles loaded with ammunitions, one Baretta pistol and several robbed vehicles and phones, including the iPhone of late Dr. Mailafia, were recovered from the suspects.
Efforts to arrest more gang members and recover the remaining operational weapons are said to be in progress.
