The operatives of State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday December 24th 2013 paraded Sulaiman Mohammed, a Lance Corporal with the Nigerian Air Force and six others for kidnapping.
Mohammed was paraded alongside Mustapha Isah, Mohammed Abubakar, Farouk Waziri, mohammed Bukar, Usman Idah, and Abdullahi Musa. The kidnapped businessman who was under their custody for five days later died 11 days after his release.
Speaking on behalf of the SSS in his office in Abuja, Tuesday, an Assistant Director, Mr. Doyin Adetuberu, said the men were caught after the mastermind of the criminal act, Isah, was arrested and later confessed to the crime.
He said: “On November 6, 2013, Alhaji Abu Dankure, a prominent Sokoto-based businessman and philanthropist was kidnapped at his construction site, located in Kofar, Kwari area, along Western Bye-pass, Sokoto. Dankure was released by his captors on November 11, 2013 and died 11 days later.
Musa, a 31 year old indigene of Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, residing in Sabongeri, Kano State, in his confession said that in September 2013, he rented a three-bedroom apartment at Mabera area of Sokoto, where he used for the operations.
He went ahead to give more details of their operations saying he had collected $290,000 ransom in Kwali Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), then ordered the release of their captive.
All the arrested men , apart from Lance Corporal Mohammed, confessed to have been part of the kidnap. Mohammed insisted that he only sold a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to Musa.
The 24-year old attached to Ministry of Defense, and resides at NAF Base on Airport Road in Abuja, however admitted to have told one of gang members that his uncle could assist them in procuring arms.
While reiterating the commitment of the service in combating all forms of insecurity in Nigeria, Olatuberu enjoined all citizens to be vigilant and continue to co-operate with law enforcement agencies.
