By Ismaila Ajikobi, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has promised to make available the sum of N20 million as bounty on two kidnapping kingpins who had escaped during the operations carried out by the police.
He made this pledge at the FCT Police Command during which no fewer than 15 arrested, suspected kidnappers including one chance robbers, have been paraded
Wike announced the bounty sequel to the Police Commissioner’s remarks that two other criminals were still on the run, saying that the police was on their trail.
“You said there are 2 criminals on the run? Let me put money on their heads. Wherever they are, send your men out there, I will give them N20 million.
“Go and fish them out, wherever they are. I want to see them dead or alive,” the minister said.
The elated minister commended the commissioner and his men for the wonderful job, saying “the difference is clear.”
He assured the command that he would do everything possible to provide the police with the needed equipment to fight crimes in the FCT.
“Let me assure the residents of FCT that with the support of President Bola Tinubu, we are fully prepared to take the war to the criminals.
“I trust the police and our confidence in them is getting stronger,” he added.
The minister pointed out that Information was key to winning the war against crime, adding that without information, there is nothing the security agencies would do.
He urged the police to do more on intelligence gathering.
Earlier, the Commissioner of the Police Command in FCT, Benneth Igweh, said that the criminals were arrested in the last two days.
Igweh explained that men of the command attached to Mabushi Divisional Headquarters, arrested eight suspected armed robbers operating once chance vehicles to rob FCT residents.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the suspects who are responsible for several one chance activities in the past, were trailed to the Central Area in an attempt to rob some innocent residents and were arrested.
“The suspects confessed to using toy guns and knives to scare their victims to illegally obtain from them,” he said.
The commissioner said that the suspects would be charged to court soon.
He added that acting on credible intelligence, the operatives of Utako Divisional Headquarters along with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command on Feb. 13, arrested seven suspected kidnappers.
He explained that the suspects were arrested in Pyankasa, Tudun Wada and Ketti village, FCT, in connection to the kidnapping of 14 persons in the territory.
“They are responsible for the kidnapping of 5 victims in Federal Mortgage Housing Estate, Kabusa, three people at Ketti village, and Fulani residents of Alhaji Sani.
“They are also responsible for the kidnap of a woman and her gate man in Kabusa Estate, one Mr Sunday Zakwai and four others and equally Killed the district head of the area.
“The criminals also kidnapped two staff at Defence Estate Kabusa.
The commissioner said that N20 million cash, six AK 47 rifles, bulletproof vests and locally fabricated walkie talkie were recovered from the suspect.
Igweh said that all the suspects would be charged to court.
