Police Arrest 2 Suspects Involved In Kidnap Of American Citizen
Some operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two suspects involved in the kidnap of American citizen, 27-year-old, Philip Walton.
The suspects include Aliyu Abdullahi, 21 years, also known as Mallam and Aliyu Umaru, 23 years, also known as Kwatte Kusu and they were arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police and men of the Force Intelligence Bureau on November, 25, 2020.
Force PRO, DCP Frank Mba said “the suspects were led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda and were arrested following a special intelligence-led operation aimed at arresting the criminal gang, disrupting and halting other criminal activities by them.
“Investigations by the Intelligence Response Team reveal that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – four Nigeriens and two Nigerians who died during the rescue operations.”
He further stated that the Force is collaborating with its Nigerien counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large.
Recall that United States special forces had rescued the American citizen, who had been kidnapped on October 28, 2020 by armed men in an operation in Sokoto, Nigeria after he was kidnapped in Niger Republic and brought into Nigeria.
Speaking at the parade of the suspects, the Force PRO said the syndicate, numbering about 15, from Nigeria and Niger Republic had gone for the operation and kidnapped Walton and kept him in a forest in Sokoto state before he was rescued.
The suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.
The FPRO also noted that as part of efforts at tackling transnational crimes, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, is working in concert with other members of the West African Police Chiefs Organization (WAPCO) to deepen intelligence sharing amongst security agencies in the ECOWAS sub-region and strengthen security along the international borders of member States.
Walton lives in Niger, where he kept camels, sheep and poultry and grew mangoes near the border with Nigeria.