The Kogi State Police Command and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad have arrested two persons suspected to be political thugs recruited by some politicians to cause mayhem, and disruption of peace, and destruction of lives and property in the state.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said the suspects, who had been on the wanted list of the Police for more than two years, were arrested at Ogojueje, Dekina LGA of the state, after a gun battle that lasted for some hours.
Mr Moshood said weapons recovered from the suspects include 5 Pump action guns, 2 AK47 rifles, locally made pistols with one using AK47 ammunitions and a hip of charms.
The statement said: “During interrogation, they further confessed they were Political Thugs recruited by some mischievous Politicians in Kogi State to cause mayhem, and disruption of peace, and destruction of lives and property in the State.
“They also confessed to belong to the gang of a dreaded and vicious kidnap for ransom gang under a gang leader (name withheld) whose whereabouts is being investigated by the Force. The two suspects were identified by some of their victims.”
The gang leader, Kabiru Saidu aka Osama, 31, said he had been working as a political thug for one Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state.
According to him, Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road, Abuja inside the senator’s car in December, 2017.
“The suspect further confessed that, Sen. Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for the Senator as his Political Thugs and they should recruit and train more other thugs to work for him in preparation toward 2019 General election to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganized Kogi State.
“The gang leader KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” further confessed to the Police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing the following firearms one (1) AK47 rifle, two (2) Pump Action guns and the sum of four hundred and thirty thousand naira N430,000.00 to share with his boys.
“Consequent on the indictments and criminal confessions against Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU, the Nigeria Police Force wrote a letter on March 2, 2018 addressing to the Senate President and requesting him to release Senator Melaye to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences levelled against him, to enable the Police carry out a discreet investigation into the confessions of the principal suspect against Senator Melaye. But Senator Melaye has refused to honour the Police invitation till date.
“A case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms have therefore been filed by the Nigeria Police Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16thMarch, 2018 against the two suspects mentioned above, Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu who is also a suspect in the matter and is now on the run.
“The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustain the tempo of the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country and guarantee protection of Lives and Property remains unequivocal and unwavering,” the statement said.
