The Officer-in-Charge of the Nigerian Police Force Special Intelligence Response Team, Olatunji Disu, has been promoted to the rank of a Commissioner of Police, but before his promotion, he and his men achieved remarkable feats in cracking cases running to hundreds, if not thousands.
Juliana Francis looks at some of the top cases that the Unit investigated and cracked, coming up with the top 28.
1. Vandals milking government dry via infrastructure arrested in Benue State
On June 15, 2022, the Unit arrested suspects who specialised in vandalism of railway tracks at Taraku, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State. Before the arrest of the gang members, the gang was believed to have removed railway tracks costing the government a fortune.
2. Suspected armed robbers, cult members busted
The Units on July 28, 2022 arrested suspected cult members and armed robbers, who had been terrorising Ekpoma, Edo State and its environs. The operatives of IRT recovered two AK-47 rifles, three Pump Action Rifles, one locally made pistol, four cutlasses and several pieces of ammunition.
3. IRT arrests suspects for fraudulent activities, recovers ATM cards
The Unit on 08/06/2022 arrested suspects for criminal conspiracy, fraudulent activities, theft and unlawful possession of ATM cards in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
4. Man arrested for killing lover, stealing her property
On 02/11/2022 at about 2pm, operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau and IRT arrested a self-confessed murder suspect, Christian Tochukwu Edeh, 31, who killed his lover, Ijeoma Phyllis Chimboli, 46, and then fled with her vehicles and other property to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Operatives tracked and arrested him.
5. Kidnap for ransom syndicate smashed in Kogi State
On 04/12/2022 at about 11:16pm, operatives of FIB-IRT arrested Bashir Mohammod, 26, of Mai Zango, and recovered AK 47 rifles from him. Investigation revealed that Mohammod used to rob and kidnap unsuspecting members of the public for ransom at Adogo Forest, about 200km North West of Adogo Road, Okene, Kogi State.
6. Kidnapped victim rescued, suspect arrested
On 14/05/2022, FIB-IRT operatives arrested a kidnapper and then rescued a kidnapped victim in Kaduna State.
7. IRT arrests arms dealer, recovers local AK47 rifle, SMG magazine
On 03/07/2022, IRT Operatives arrested an arms dealer at Masaka in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and recovered a locally fabricated AK47 rifle and SMG magazine.
8. Intelligence leads to arrest of 48year-old with AK47 rifle, ammunition
On 18/11/2022 at about 5:30pm, IRT Operatives acting on credible human intelligence arrested 48-year-old Tambaya Mohammed and recovered one AK47 rifle and eight rounds of ammunition from him in Agwatachi, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State
9. Isah Rabe nabbed, AK47 rifle, magazine recovered
On 18/12/2022 at about 6am, operatives acting on a credible intelligence apprehended 25-year-old Isah Rabe in Igbado village, Nasarawa State. The suspect was not the actual target that the operatives were after, but he was found in the suspect’s lair and then recovered one AK47 rifle and an empty magazine from him.
10. Two arrested, AK47 rifles, ammunition recovered
On 07/06/2022, the Unit arrested two suspects and recovered AK-47 rifles and ammunition at Saminaka village in Shendam Local Government area of Plateau State.
11. IRT recovers AK47 rifle in village
On 09/06/2022, the Unit recovered an additional AK-47 rifle at Saminaka village in Shendam local government area of Plateau State.
12. Unit arrests suspect in case of culpable homicide, recovers rifle
On 28/06/2022, the Unit arrested a suspect and recovered an AK47 rifle at Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. Police described the case as criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, attempt to commit culpable homicide, and illegal possession of prohibited firearms.
13. Suspect arrested for illegal possession of AK47 rifle
On 17/07/2022, the Unit arrested a suspect and recovered one AK47 rifle at Kalong village, Shendam LGA of Plateau State in a case of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and illegal possession of a prohibited firearm.
14. Two arrested in Plateau State, rifle recovered
On 17/12/2022 at about 1:40pm following a tip-off, Mohammed Iliyasu, 40, of Kopgalwa Shendam Local Government Area, and Haruna Adamu, 40, of Maharaja Damshi Qur’an, Pan Local Government Area, both in Plateau State, were arrested and AK49 rifle with breech number 649868 recovered from them.
15. Car snatchers, kidnappers busted in Rivers State
On 30/03/2022, Operatives of IRT arrested suspected car snatchers and kidnappers in Rivers State. These suspects are believed to have been terrorising residents of the state for long before they met their waterloo.
17. Suppliers of arms, ammunition to kidnappers arrested
The Operatives of IRT, working on intel received from the Technical Intelligence Unit, FHQ about the activities of some notorious kidnappers and gunrunners around Wukari Taraba State on 14/12/2022 at about 5:37pm busted the gang. According to investigations, the group does not just supply arms and ammunition but is also into kidnapping. Both groups were alleged to have been terrorising Plateau, Bauchi, Nassarawa and Kaduna States. Those arrested were identified as Abdullahi Maina, 40, and Abubakar Suddi Adamu, 30. They were arrested at Wukari Taraba State. At the time of arrest, a phone and SIM were recovered from Abdullahi Maina.
18. Bandits nabbed for terrorising Kaduna State
On 19/01/2023 at about 6pm, FIB-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested suspected bandits identified as Lawal Rabiu, Yetti Rabiu, Rabiu Rabiu Bature, Babajo Rabiu and Abdullahi Magaji, aka Lalwi, all in Kangimi village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State for allegedly belonging to a gang of bandits terrorising the state and its environs.
19. Two men apprehended, rifle recovered
On 22/01/2023 at about 3:20pm, operatives of FIB-IRT on investigation activities in Nasarawa State, acting on a tip-off, arrested Budari Usman, 40, and Joli Usman, 43, both from Doma LGA of Nasarawa State. The operatives recovered an AK49 rifle with breech No. 30099.
20. Unit arrests four, recovers AK49 rifle
On 31/01/2023 at about 3:09pm, operatives of FIB-IRT on investigation activities in Nasarawa State following a tip-off, arrested Musa Bature, 30; Dule Laulo, 20; Audi Bature, 24; and Likita Bature, 20, while one suspect, also named Bature, is at large. All the suspects are from Adudu village in Obi LGA of Nasarawa State. Operatives also recovered an AK49 rifle with breech No. 17886 from the suspects.
21. Suspected armed robbers arrested in Nasarawa
On 20/02/2023 at about 12:9pm, operatives of FIB-IRT led by Inspector Bulus Ponfa, acting on a tip-off, arrested a suspected armed robber in Nasarawa State. During interrogation, the suspect, Alhaji Hassan Yakubu, of the Kumar community in Taraba State, confessed to the crime and led the team to where an AK49 rifle with breech number 72780 was recovered.
22. IRT arrests three in connection with kidnapping
Thirty-five-year-old Iyenemi Wiedan on 23/12/2022, was kidnapped along Psychiatry Road, Rumuola Port Harcourt. She was however released on 25/12/2022 after a negotiated ransom was paid. On 09/02/2023 at about 4pm, Operatives of FIB-IRT in collaboration with officers of the Rivers State Police Command arrested three suspects in connection to the kidnapping. The suspects arrested are Gospel Benjamin alias Big Fish, 25, from Kaani Community in Khana LGA of Rivers State; Precious Yirakpoa Ndorbu, 20, from Kaani community in Khana LGA of Rivers State; Mighty Beralenee, 23, also from Kaani community in Khana LGA of Rivers State. The suspects were arrested with the help of the Technical Intelligence Unit. They all admitted to being members of Iceland’s Secret Cult.
23. Unit arrests kidnappers, arms dealers, recovers AK47 rifles, magazines
The IRT Unit on 15/02/2023 at about 6:30am arrested two notorious kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers and arms dealers. The arrest came after a credible intelligence gathering of suspected kidnappers and an arms dealer operation in progress. The IRT Operatives succeeded in arresting Alhaji Tukur Abdul Kareem, 35, a native of Basari LGA of Katsina State residing at Fanguru Forest in Gombe State, and Yahaya Saleh, 25, a native of Zira village in Dangi Kanam LGA of Plateau State. The Operatives recovered four AK47 rifles with breech numbers 5652-10787, 1968-th1541, 56-3777598, 1968-ye8692, and 38 rounds of 6.72mm live ammunition. They also recovered six empty magazines and one K2 assault rifle with breech number 5100279, four rounds of 730mm live ammunition, and 18 rounds of 7.62mm LAR live ammunition with the magazine loaded. The suspects confessed to belonging to a gang of notorious kidnappers that terrorised Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe States. They also supplied arms and ammunition to their gang members and other gangs. Fleeing gang members include Alhaji Sambo, Ali, Detti Hari and Saleh Saidu, who are all at large.
24. Man belonging to 10 different gangs of kidnappers arrested for terrorising states
The IRT Unit on 15/02/2023 at about 6:30pm arrested Shehu Alhaji Halilu, 25, a native of Ruwan Godiya village in Faskari LGA of Katsina State. He was arrested following intelligence reports of him being a kidnapper and an armed dealer. Police recovered three AK47 rifles with one empty magazine from the suspect. On interrogation, the suspect confessed to belonging to 10 different gangs of notorious kidnappers that terrorised Katsina, Bauchi and Gombe States. He was further accused of supplying arms and ammunition to the other gang members.
25. IRT arrests suspected kidnappers, gunrunners, recovers 16 guns
On 20/02/2023 at about 2pm and sequel to credible intelligence, the Unit arrested suspected kidnappers and gunrunners. The suspects were described by operatives as two notorious kidnappers, armed robbers and arms dealers. IRT operatives succeeded in arresting Abdulkadir Mohammed, aka Sarki Bakan, 61, in Gombe LGA of Gombe State, and Kabiru Bello Baka, aka Wakilin Baka Dukku, 30, a native of Dukku LGA of Gombe State. Operatives recovered 16 fabricated Dane guns from the suspects. When duly interviewed and interrogated, the suspects confessed to belonging to a gang of notorious arms dealers within Gombe State while his gang member terrorised Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe States. He supplied arms and ammunition to their gang members and other gangs. He also doubles as an arms/ammunition supplier, while Rabiu Shehu, Aliyu Immigration Baruwa and Oga Saidu Immigration Baruwa are at large.
26. Suspects arrested after supplying 384 rounds of ammunition
The Unit arrested ammunition suppliers based on intel generated by TIU about the activities of illicit gunrunners operating in some parts of Plateau State led by one Kulli, with his other names unknown. IRT operatives arrested one of his associates named Lohjul Ponfa of Pajat Lantang LGA Plateau State. When interrogated, the suspect confessed that he supplied a total of 384 rounds of live ammunition of an AK-47 rifle to the said Kulli between 2022 to January 2023. He further mentioned the following persons: Samuel Joro, aka Madaki; Nanpon Zungnap; Nankat Sati; and Monday Nimmak, a Nigerian Army Personnel, as his accomplice. Joro, Zungnap and Sati have been arrested. But the principal suspects, Kulli Lagai, Ponga and Monday Nimmak, are still at large.
27. IRT busted criminal gang using threat, fear to extort
The Unit on 14/03/2023 at about 10am busted a criminal network, which had to do with criminal conspiracy, threat to life, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms. Ezenwa Nwakanobi of 5, Tema Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja reported through a petition dated March 10, 2023 that he received a phone call from an anonymous caller with GSM number 08136951182, threatening to kidnap him. The caller further stated that he was contracted by someone to kidnap him and a bounty to the tune of N2 million has been placed on his head. The suspect also recorded a video brandishing a pistol warning the complainant to comply or he will beg for his life when finally kidnapped. On the receipt of this, operatives of IRT swung into action and arrested Emmanuel Adeka, who confessed to the crime. He mentioned the name of his accomplice as one Mathew who was at large.
28. Three arrested for planning to kidnap businessman
The Unit on 24/03/2023 at about 1pm smashed a case of attempted kidnapping and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms. The suspects were planning to abduct a businessman, Prince Chinedu Godswill, of Visky Place Plaza, Lugbe FCT, Abuja. On that fateful day in question, operatives of FIB-IRT arrested three suspects: Bawa Victor, 30; Aliyu Nurudeen, 35; and Abdul Suleiman, 33, all of Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja. One Barreta Pistol was recovered from Victor.
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