A 52-year-old Islamic teacher, Jubril Ibrahim, has landed in police custody after he was allegedly linked to a gang of kidnappers terrorising parts of Edo State.
Ibrahim was paraded alongside four suspected kidnappers by the Edo State Police Command on Tuesday over alleged kidnapping operations in Edo North, particularly around Auchi, Jattu and Okpella.
The suspects were among 11 people paraded by the police in connection with various crimes.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daor, the suspected kidnappers were tracked to Niger State and arrested following painstaking intelligence gathering by operatives.
But Ibrahim denied being a charm maker for kidnappers, insisting that he only offered prayers for one of the suspects.
Speaking through an interpreter, the Islamic teacher said the suspect’s mother had approached him to pray for her son, Ahmadu Suleiman, because he travelled frequently.
Ibrahim explained that he gathered Almajiri children and taught them the Qur’an, adding that his prayers for Suleiman were simply for his safe journeys.
However, when questioned about Suleiman’s possession of an AK-47 rifle, Ibrahim reportedly admitted that he knew the suspect had a gun.
Suleiman, 24, allegedly gave investigators a chilling account of how kidnappers operated.
The suspect claimed he had worked with different kidnapping syndicates across the country before returning to Niger State.
He admitted taking part in a kidnapping operation in Auchi, saying the gang targeted houses that appeared wealthy.
According to him, the gang would storm a community, shoot into the air and force terrified residents out of their homes before abducting them and taking them into the bush.
Suleiman claimed he received N1m from the Auchi operation, which he described as the only kidnapping operation he participated in within the area.
Asked whether the gang relied on informants, he reportedly said they did not, claiming the suspects simply watched out for expensive cars and impressive buildings when searching for potential victims.
BABY THEFT SUSPECT ALSO PARaded
Another suspect, a 21-year-old man, was also paraded for allegedly stealing a baby around Ring Road, Benin.
The police also displayed a recovered vehicle believed to have been stolen.
The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were made possible through intelligence gathered by police operatives.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could help the police track down criminals and prevent further attacks.
The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
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