Operation Puff Adder: Mastermind of UBEC chairman kidnap gunned down


Operatives of the Nigeria Police deployed on Operation Puff Adder have gunned down one Sumaila Sule, who allegedly masterminded the kidnap of the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and his daughter along the Abuja- Kaduna Road last month.


Force Police Relations Office (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, who disclosed this in a press statement, Sunday in Abuja, said the suspect, Sule alias Shaho, estimated to be in his mid-thirties, was a native of Rijana Village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state.
The police described him as “one of the most vicious and most wanted kidnappers that has been terrorising citizens in Kaduna and its environ.”


The spokesperson said the suspect died in the early hours of Saturday, following multiple bullet wounds he sustained during a shootout with police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder.
He said, “The police operatives, in line with the mandate of Operation Puff Adder, were carrying out routine surveillance and raid of suspected criminal hide-outs.


“They suddenly came under gunfire attack from a heavily armed criminal gang. The police team fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and eventually bringing Shaho down, while his gang members fled. Shaho was rushed to a hospital where he eventually died the next day.


“Meanwhile, acting on information elicited from the suspect before his death, police operatives, between May 18 and 19, 2019, carried out sweeping follow-up operations at different target locations.
“These coordinated operations led to the arrest of four other members of the gang and the recovery of three (3) AK 47 rifles.”
He named the suspects as: Musa Hassan, 26; Yau Umar, 25; Umar MUSA, 22; and Muhammad Sani, 28; “all males and natives of Rijiana Village Kachia LGA Kaduna state.


The spokesperson further stated that:“In a similar vein, a combined team of Operation Puff Adder operatives, comprising of the IGP Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Police Mobile Force and the Special Anti Robbery Squad have arrested another set of kidnappers.
“They have been terrorising citizens at Mubi axis of Adamawa State. One AK 47 rifle and twenty-six (26) rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang.”


The police named the suspects as Umaru Ibrahim, a native of Buni Yadi, Yobe state; Abdul Maina, a native of Maiha Adamawa state; and Mohammed Abubakar, also a native of Buni Yadi, Yobe state.


The police said the suspects have confessed to participating in numerous kidnapping and armed robbery operations within Adamawa State, including the kidnap and collection of a ransom of N7 million from one Abdullahi Umoru of Hong LGA.
“Investigations into these cases are on-going, while efforts aimed at arresting other members of the gangs still at large are being intensified.”

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