Police break silence on ‘invasion of popular Senator’s residence’

The Police have arrested four suspects for attempted armed robbery at the Minna residence of Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command,  Wasiu Abiodun, stated this Sunday in a statement issued in Minna. 

He dismissed online reports of assassination attempt on the Lawmaker adding, “the command to respond to an online publication which stated that there was an assassination attempt of Senator in Minna, which is untrue and false.”

He said, “The fact of the incident is that on 03/12/2022 at about 1900hrs, based on a distress call received that some strange suspicious persons, driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with Reg. No. FKJ 814 GP invaded the house of a Senator, located at Tudun-Wada, Minna”.

DSP Abiodun said the Command immediately mobilised tactical teams to the scene and the following four  suspects were arrested.

He listed the suspects as Oladele Peter Akano aged 49yrs ‘m’ of Kuruduma, Abuja, Abdul Salisu aged 31yrs ‘m’ of Gwagwalada, Abuja

-Felix Clarkson aged 47yrs ‘m’ of Karo Abuja and Babagana Alhaji aged 39yrs ‘m’ of Chideri-Polo, Maiduguri

According to him, during interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were mobilised by one Sherrif, a purported whistleblower who was reportedly claiming to be working with a security agency at Abuja but presently at large.

The said Sherrif invited Akano is a teacher in a private school at Abuja.

He also invited Clarkson, an instructor in a private institute ‘INSMO’ Abuja, Salisu who is a plumber from Gwagwalada, provided hammer and chisel for house breaking and Babagana Alhaji, with five others presently at large.

The PPRO said the suspects confessed further that Sherrif stated there are foreign currency and arms kept in the residence of the politician, hence they travelled from Abuja to Minna for a purported execution of search without any warrant.

However, on getting to the residence, the security operatives attached to the house suspected the fake team and raised alarm for reinforcement, 

He said Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada division and anti-kidnapping team of the Command were drafted to the scene.

He said, “Four among the suspects were arrested with the said Toyota Sienna vehicle, while others took to their heels, on sighting the Police reinforcement teams.

He added that the suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna for discreet investigation and that investigation is ongoing with a view to apprehend other members of the gang.