The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 52-year-old Islamic teacher, Jubril Ibrahim, for allegedly preparing charms for suspected kidnappers operating in the Edo North Senatorial District.
Ibrahim was paraded alongside four suspected kidnappers and six other suspects at the command headquarters in Benin City on Tuesday.
The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daor, said the suspected kidnappers were arrested in Niger State following intelligence gathered by operatives of the command.
However, Ibrahim denied preparing charms for the suspects, claiming he only prayed for one of them, 24-year-old Ahmadu Suleiman, at the request of his mother.
Speaking through an interpreter, Ibrahim said he was an Islamic teacher who gathered and taught Almajiri pupils the Qur’an.
According to him, Suleiman’s mother had asked him to pray for her son’s safety because he travelled frequently.
“Suleiman’s mother came to me and said I should be praying for her son, that he travels a lot, so I should pray for his safe trip to and from. That is what I have been doing,” Ibrahim said.
However, when asked if he knew Suleiman possessed an AK-47 rifle, Ibrahim admitted that he was aware the suspect had a gun.
Suleiman, who also spoke through an interpreter, confessed to participating in a kidnapping operation in Auchi and claimed he worked with different kidnapping syndicates across the country before returning to his base in Niger State after operations.
He said the gang targeted wealthy-looking homes and abducted victims after firing shots to cause panic.
“When we get to the community, we look for a beautiful house and shoot into the air. As people are scampering for safety, we hold them, take them to the bush and demand money,” he said.
Suleiman claimed he received ₦1 million from the Auchi operation, which he described as the only kidnapping operation he participated in within the area.
He also said the syndicate did not rely on informants but selected targets by identifying communities with expensive cars and houses.
The police also paraded a 21-year-old suspect allegedly involved in the theft of a baby around Ring Road in Benin City.
A stolen vehicle was equally recovered during the operation.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were made possible through intelligence gathering and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies to help prevent crime and apprehend criminal suspects.
