Former AG relative, others paraded for alleged robbery, kidnapping in Kogi

…. Suspects deny allegation

SEVENTY-TWO-year-old Alhaji Ahmed Adoke, uncle to the former Attorney- General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, two chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC); Major Ali Abdullahi (rtd) and the APC House of Assembly candidate in the just concluded general elections, Idris Ozi Shuaibu, were among 45 suspects paraded yesterday in Lokoja for alleged armed robbery and kidnap cases.

Though the trio all claimed to have been roped in by their political detractors, the police insisted they were mentioned as accomplices.

However, in what seemed like a drama during the parade of the suspects, the Police never really gave newsmen leeway to speak to some of the suspects to hear their own side of the case. But Major Ali Abdullahi aka Hitler forcefully stood up and said he was only being implicated for doing nothing.

According to him, he said when the police conducted a search on his residence, nothing incriminating was found on him, but he was surprised that police now bundled him up with criminals alleging that he was the one supplying them with guns.

The sick-looking uncle of the former Attorney General, Ahmed, who is said to be a renowned social critic, was also shouting to newsmen to hear him out saying that he knew nothing about the allegation levelled against him.

One Idris Ozi Shaibu, the APC candidate in the last Okehi House of Assembly election, also rained abuses on his political detractors for roping him in a case he knew nothing about.
He asked the police to allow him speak to the press because he is not a common criminal but a chartered accountant.

He added that he was arrested because he was challenging his opponent in the election at the tribunal.

As part of the gains of the recent deployment of over 350-men Police Task Force, 44 suspects linked to sundry criminal activities were paraded.

Addressing newsmen the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu said the harvest of arrests was made possible through the Special Anti Crime Task Force set up by the Inspector – General of Police (IGP) which was deployed to Kogi State due to the rampant cases of kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the state.

He said within three weeks of the deployment to the state, they were able to hit criminal hide outs and recovered over 50 guns and dangerous weapons, six stolen vehicles while 45 suspects were arrested.

Ojukwu who said the IGP was before now highly disturbed over the high crime rate in the state, said with the presence of the STF which comprised of 350 crack detectives and anti-riot Police personnel, the crime rate in the state has dropped drastically.

He said the task force observed that the crime rate in the state was heightened by intra and inter clan conflicts, unwholesome engagement of youths in thuggery by politicians and cultists’ activities in the state.

According to him: “We will use all that is available within the Nigerian Police Force to secure lives and property in the State. We rely on the members of the public for information.”

He explained that in the course of their operations sometimes they pick a suspect and who reveals the source of his arms.

Ojukwu said the police would verify it and follow it to its logical conclusion adding that the laws of Nigeria do not respect persons.

“You are very much aware that section 308 of the Constitution is not very generous when it comes to immunity, so any politician that is caught in the web of supplying arms to hoodlums or criminals would be arrested and the law will take its course. There is no sacred cow anywhere in the Nigerian law.”