Oliver Honiol, the leader of a gang of armed robbers, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and car snatchers disclosed, yesterday, that the gang’s arms supplier was an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Yuguda Abbah, who was also in charge of the armoury and exhibit keeper of recovered arms and ammunition.
The gang leader said his gang got 16 AK-47 rifles from the officer and paid between N230,000 and N250,000 for each.
Honiol, leader of the 45-member gang, who hails from Song in Adamawa State, made the disclosure while being paraded with other members of the gang, noting that another policeman, Sergeant Habila Sarki that introduced him to ASP Abbah, the supplier of the arms.
However, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Donald Awunah, who paraded the suspects and the cache of recovered arms and ammunition, disclosed that ASP Abbah, Sergeant Habila and seven other police officers who had been aiding and abetting kidnapping, robbery and cattle rustling in the North-East, have all been dismissed for unprofessional conduct after facing orderly room trials and the Force Disciplinary Committee.
The other police officers are Sergeant Diphem Nimmyel, Sergeant Yasan Danda, Sergeant Abbas Mailalle, Sergeant Bwanason Tanko, Sergeant Donan James, Corporal Idris Salisu and Corporal Zakari Kofi.
How we got them—PPRO
According to DCP Awunah, “in October, one Alhaji Hodi Adamu, a notorious robbery suspect was arrested in Adamawa State. The suspect’s confession led to the arrest of two other suspects namely, Rabo Bello and Oliver Haniol, whose voluntary confessions led to the arrest of the nine police personnel mentioned.
“For the various roles they played through their actions and inaction, which are considered disciplinary infractions, the principal suspects and the dismissed police officers will soon be charged to court.”
Some of the exhibits recovered from the gang, are 17 AK-47 rifles, one pump action, one locally-made pistol, 42 empty magazines, 363 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, 71 K2 live ammunition and 25 live cartridges and seven exotic cars of various brands, including SUVs.
Another police sergeant, Laibi Opakegba, who conspired to supply explosives to militants and robbers terrorising Lagos and Ogun states, was paraded with his accomplice, Abiodun Amos, alias Senti.
Sergeant Opakegba was intercepted discussing with Amos on how to source and supply red dynamite to the militants.
Amos, a 43-year-old militant and native of Ese-Odo council of Ondo State, was arrested at the bank of River Majidun in Ikorodu area of Lagos State in possession of two AK-47 rifles. He later named other members of the militant group.
Four policemen in Kogi
The police also paraded four more dismissed officers for aiding and abetting a kidnap and robbery kingpin in several criminal acts in Kogi State.
They are Sergeant Musbahu Yahaya, Sergeant Ugenlo Sylvester, Sergeant Musa Umar and Corporal Omale Edicha.
The policemen, serving in Kogi State, were arrested for conspiring with one Zakari Ya’u Isiaka, an alleged notorious criminal, who has been on the wanted list of police.
The suspect confessed to have been actively involved in many robberies, kidnappings and murder cases within Kogi and other North Central states.
Five assorted rifles and different calibers of ammunition, one assault rifle, one Beretta rifle, two AK-47 magazines; three K2 magazines, two G3 magazines and 10 7.62 live ammunition were recovered from them.
Other suspects paraded are Mayo Chadi Aliyu, Atiku Ibrahim, AIi Mohammed, Abdulrahman Umar, Umar Daudu, Ibrahim Umar, Ibrahim Mallam, Adamu Lolo, Suleiman Buba, Ahmed Adamu, Gidado Garba, Sani Dan Alhaji, Inusa Mohammed, Mohammed Wari, Mohammed Rabiu, Hammadu Abdullahi, Idi Juye and Yusuf Abdullahi.
