The suspect confessed during interrogation that he planned to kidnap a former chairman of Mariga and the father of a former commissioner in the state, police said.
The police in Niger State say they have arrested Bashiru Abdulahi, an alleged serial killer and notorious kidnapper, in the Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday in Minna.
Mr Abiodun said the police’s tactical team attached to Minna Area Command at about 4:30 p.m. on July 14 arrested the suspect, a native of Bangi town, headquarters of Mariga LGA.
Mr Abiodun said during interrogation, the suspect confessed that he planned to kidnap a former chairman of Mariga and the father of a former commissioner in the state.
“The suspect claimed that the former chairman owed him about N5.8 million and that if the former chairman was kidnapped, he intended to realise N10 million as ransom from him.”
The command’s spokesperson said the suspect had also confessed that part of his plan was equally to kidnap the father of the former commissioner, whom he (suspect) owed about N1.3 million from a business transaction between them.
Mr Abiodun said the suspect said he was expecting to get a N15 million ransom from the plan.
“Further investigation revealed that sometimes in March 2022, the said Alhaji Bashiru was suspected to have murdered his younger brother, one Alhaji Mamuda Abdullahi of Bangi town, Mariga LGA.
“When the suspect was interrogated, he confessed to the act that he contributed money with his brother to the tune of N79 million for a business purpose.
“The suspect confessed that while his late brother swindled him, he hit him with a stick on the head, which resulted in his death.”
The PRO said the suspect, however, told the family members that his brother was attacked and killed by bandits at Beri.
He said the ongoing investigation aimed at arresting other suspected members of his gang.
(NAN)
