Police Arrests Notorious Kidnapper Who Crashed His Car While Fleeing with N6.9m Ransom Money
The Nigeria Police has recorded a major breakthrough in its efforts to curb incessant violent kidnap of innocent citizen by criminals as Police operatives arrested some notorious kidnappers terrorizing some parts of Abuja and recovered arms and a large sum of money suspected to be ransom.
The police in a statement issued by its spokesman, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that the kidnap kingpin identified as Mohammed Tahir, a native of Bakin Ladi in Plateau was arrested after he had accident in Nasarawa State while fleeing after collecting ransom from the family of a lawyer he confessed they kidnapped in the Nyanya suburb of Abuja.
According the police statement, “on 18th August 2025, operatives of Garaku Police Division responded to a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community and the Two occupants fled the scene of crime immediately abandoning the vehicle. A search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of G3 rifle, which was handed over to the Police. Upon further search of the vehicle at the police station, police operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total sum of ₦6,908,150 (Six Million, Nine Hundred and Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Naira only).
“Following an intensive manhunt conducted in collaboration with the military, one of the fleeing suspects, Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, was arrested. He confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the kidnapping of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom had been collected.”
Also the police disclosed that two suspected kidnappers were arrested in Eket, Akwa Ibom State when police responded to a distress call.
According to the police statement, “on 16th August 2025, Police operatives attached to Eket Division, in synergy with operatives from Ikot Udota Division and youths of Afia Nsit, responded swiftly to a distress call of a suspected kidnapping attempt at Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket.
“The prompt response led to the rescue of one Emerson and the arrest of two suspects, namely one Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey. Further search conducted in an uncompleted building in a nearby bush led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, Six magazines, and a mobile phone, which are all suspected to belong to the hoodlums. Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing gang members.
Commending the swift response of the operatives responsible for the arrest of the suspected kidnappers and rescue of victims, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun called on the public to continue to collaborate with the police in its efforts to rid the society of criminals,
“The IGP therefore commended the swift action of the operatives, the synergy with community members, and the vigilance of patriotic citizens whose timely information proved crucial, as the Force will not relent in its efforts to ensure criminals have no safe haven in Nigeria.” Statement concluded.
