Inspector-General of Police’s crack team deployed to Kogi State to checkmate the upsurge in banditry, kidnapping and activities of social miscreants, has arrested 31 suspects few days after its arrival in the state.
The team which was saddled also with the responsibility of checking the excesses of criminals along major highways in the state also smashed several kidnapping/armed robbery rings.
The IGP directed the Special Anti-Crime Task Force led by CP Chris Ezike of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, to relocate to Kogi State about 3 weeks ago with a task to quickly address the situation.
Consequently, the team arrived Lokoja on 27th May, 2015 and supported by a strong Force of 300 personnel of the Police Mobile Force drawn from across Nigeria and complemented by the Kogi State Command work force, swung into action.
The task given to the team included identifing all criminal syndicates, their leaders/foot soldiers, sponsors and arresting them with operational precision; carry out sporadic raids of their houses/homes, hideouts, rendezvous and other tabernacles and recover arms/ammunition, dangerous weapons, dangerous charms and all other items/properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of the crime.
The operatives were to also identify kidnappers’ safe havens, hideouts and warehouses and liberate victims.
Consequently, between 4th and 19th of June, a total of 31 robbery, kidnapping and arms suppliers/receiving suspects were arrested by the crack police team from different parts of the state.
The suspects included one kidnap suspect who killed a Police Corporal, Apogu Dzakwa, on 18 May 2015 at Ayere/ Ajowa in Ijumu LGA of Kogi state and snatched his rifle – number BA360834; suspects terrorizing the Okpella-Okene highway and other highways leading to the East Ondo State and highways from Abaji to Lokoja.
