2-IN-1 STORY: We Got ₦13m From Ransom Paid For Emefiele — Soldiers (SEE FULL POLICE BRIEFING)

Police briefing where two soldiers were paraded alongside seven others

Two soldiers, Lance Corporals Musa Maidabra and Edwin George, serving at 122D30 Regiment in Maiduguri, Borno State, have been arrested for transporting the ransom that was paid for the release of the wife of the Central Bank Governor, Margaret Emefiele.

Media report continues:

Emefiele and three others were abducted along Benin-Agbor Road about two weeks ago and were released 24 hours later after the payment of undisclosed amount to their abductors.

The two soldiers said they received ₦6.5m each as their share of the ransom estimated to be around ₦80m.

Maidabra and George, who were paraded alongside seven others on Monday in Abuja for alleged involvement in the kidnapping, said they were given the money for assisting the gang to transport the ransom to a hideout in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Other suspects included a dismissed soldier, Ernest Uduefe, Mohammed Abubakar, Mohammed Musa, Mohammed Sule, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Aliyu Musa and Mohammed Yusuf.

Maidabra said, “We were not involved in the kidnapping; we only assisted them to transport the money to a location. We carried the money and ran away with it in a vehicle; it was part of my friend’s share that I collected. We didn’t know the money was from a kidnap operation.”

George corroborated his colleague, saying they provided security cover for transporting the ransom to a hideout in Benin.

“I was not involved in the kidnap; the money they gave me was over ₦6m. I asked about the source of the money, but they didn’t tell me,” he said.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah, said the police recovered ₦14,725,000, two Honda Accord cars, an Audi car, one AK 47 magazine and two cartridges from the gang.

He stated that a Jeep, valued at ₦1.5m and ₦4m cash were recovered from Maidabra, while a Honda Accord, estimated at ₦1.1m, was recovered from George.

Awunah explained that detectives recovered ₦7.7m from Musa out of his ₦10m share, adding that he sustained bullet wounds after a gun duel with the police while trying to escape from the forest where they had kept their victim.

He said, “Mohammed Sule confessed to have received ₦10m in cash as part of his share of the ransom paid and claimed a soldier and a gang leader escaped with the rest of the loot. Another suspect, Ibrahim Abdullahi, admitted to have received ₦10m in cash.

“The police will continue to limit the capacity of kidnappers and other criminals to disrupt the quality of life of Nigerians by the deployment of adequate manpower and resources in crime reduction, detection and prosecution of offenders.”

On the payment of ransom, the police noted that it was sometime used as a bait or bargaining chip to save the lives of victims of crime.

“It is absolutely important to mention that the police do not and will not encourage payment of ransom,” Awunah added.

Full Press Briefing On The Arrest Of Nine Kidnappers Of CBN Governor's Wife

Nigerian Police has shared more information about the arrest of nine kidnappers of CBN Governor's wife Mrs Margaret Emefiele. The following is a press briefing by the Nigerian Police:

Gentlemen of the Press, you are welcome to today’s press briefing.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NMP, mni, is committed in ensuring that all forms of crime, fear of crime and particularly kidnap for ransom and other violent crimes are brought to the lowest ebb throughout the country.

Similarly, the IGP is determined in making sure that all those who are engaged in kidnappings, abductions and armed criminal activities will not escape Justice. To this end, the Nigeria Police will galvanize all available resources at its disposal to make sure miscreants, hoodlums and deviants have their day with the law.
Against this background, the IGP had ordered the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and other tactical teams to swing into action to rescue Mrs. Margret Emiefele, the wife of the Central Bank Governor unhurt and apprehend all those remotely or directly responsible for the dastardly act.

It will be recalled that Mrs Margret Emiefele and three of her aides were abducted on 29/9/2016 at Oquneki Hills along Benin-Agbor road, in Delta State.

Consequent upon deployment of Intelligence Platform, Mrs. Emiefele and her aides were rescued on 30/9/ 2016 unhurt and they have since been reunited with their families after debriefing.

Subsequently the following suspects were arrested and exhibits listed were recovered from them

SUSPECTS:
i. Lance Corporal Musa Maidabra ‘M’ 28 years

ii. Lance corporal Edwin George ‘M’

iii. Ernest Anthony Uduefe ‘M’ 32 years (dismissed Soldier)

iv. Mohammed Abubakar A.K.A Dogo ‘M’ 29 years (Gang leader)

v. Mohammed Musa ‘M’ 26 years

vi. Mohammed Sule ‘M’ 26 years

vii. Ibrahim Abdullahi ‘M’ 30 years

viii. Aliyu Musa ‘M’ 30 years

ix. Mohammed Yusuf ‘M’ 36 years

EXHIBIT:
i. Fourteen million seven hundred and twenty five thousand naira (₦14,725,000)

ii. Three Vehicles (Two Honda cars and an Audi car).

iii. 1 AK 47 magazine and two cartridges

i. NA/65/7115 LANCE CORPORAL MUSA MAIDABARA: The suspect is a 30 year old native of Katau Village in Billiri LGA of Gombe State. A Lance corporal with the Nigerian Army serving at 122D30 Regiment in Maiduguri, Borno State, he was arrested for the active role he played in the kidnap. Upon his arrest, he made a confessional statement to the Police admitting to be part of the gang that kidnapped and collected ransom from the victim’s family. In the course of investigation into the crime, a Jeep worth one million five hundred thousand naira and a sum of four million naira which was his own share of the ransom money was recovered from his possession. It was also discovered that he, in company of NA/65/6582 Lance Corporal Edwin George and one Ernest Anthony Uduefe, a dismissed soldier, while dressed in Army Uniform, escorted some of the kidnappers and the ransom money in a maroon colour Audi car out of the forest where they had kept the victim, to Benin City, Edo State.

ii. NA/65/6582 LANCE CORPORAL EDWIN GEAORGE: A native of Otukpo town, Otukpo LGA of Benue State. He is personnel of the Nigerian Army serving at 122D Regiment in Maiduguri, Borno State. As earlier mentioned, he was part of the trio that escorted the ransom money to Benin City Edo State. A Honda car worth one million one hundred thousand naira (₦1,100,000) which he used part of his loot to purchase was recovered from him. The suspect was arrested on 05/10/2016 at about 1300hrs in his home town.

iii. ERNEST ANTHONY UDUEFE: The suspect is 32 years old, he is a native of Igbuku village, Ndokwa East LGA of Delta State. He also volunteered a confessional statement to his involvement in the crime. Investigation revealed that he also bought a Honda car worth one million five hundred thousand naira (1,500,000) and furnished an apartment in Benin City Edo State within 48hrs of the kidnap incident. The sum of one million five hundred thousand naira in cash and the said Honda car was recovered from him.

iv. MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR A.K.A DOGO: The suspect is 30 years of age. He is a native of Mubi town, in Mubi LGA of Adamawa State and the leader of the group. He confessed to the crime and admitted that he received the sum of eleven million naira (₦11,000,000) in cash from the ransom paid. The suspect however, claimed to have given one Danjuma who is presently on the run, the said sum to keep for him.

v. MOHAMMED MUSA: The suspect is 26 years old and hails from Yabo LGA of Sokoto State. He also volunteered a confessional statement admitting that he is a member of the gang and also, that he received the sum of ten million naira (10,000,000) from the ransom paid. He sustained bullet wounds after a gun duel with the Police while trying to leave the forest where they had kept the victim. The cash sum of seven million seven hundred thousand naira (₦7,700,000) was recovered from him. Useful information was gotten from him that led to the arrest of other gang members.

vi. MOHAMMED SULE: He is 26 years old and a native of Awe village in Awe LGA of Nasarawa State. The suspect confessed to have received ten million naira (10,000,000) in cash as part of his share of ransom paid and claimed a soldier and a gang leader escaped with the loot.

vii. IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI: He is a 30 year old native of Fondogeri LGA of Niger State. He admitted to have received ten million naira (₦10,000,000) in cash as part of his share of the ransom money.

viii. ALIYU MUSA AND MOHAMMED YUSUF: 29 year old Aliyu Musa and 36 year old Mohammed Yusuf were arrested for their involvement in the kidnap incident based on information availed the Police by Mohammed Musa one of the aforementioned suspects. They are being investigated further on the roles played by the two in the commission of the crime.

The Nigeria Police Force will continue to limit the capacity of kidnappers and other criminals to disrupt the quality of life of Nigerians by the deployment of adequate manpower and resources in crime reduction, detection and effective prosecution of offenders in courts of competent jurisdiction.

The curtailment of the activities of kidnappers in our communities will be ultimately successful through the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders. There must be collective ownership of law enforcement.

It is instructive to mention that money or ‘ransom’ is sometimes used as a bait or bargaining chip to save the lives of the victims of crime which is primary to security operatives.
It is also absolutely important to mention that the Police do not and will not encourage payment of ransom. The relatives of victims of kidnap for ransom are strongly advised to exercise considerable caution to succumb in payment of ransom. It is inherently counterproductive. At all times of kidnap scenario, it is pertinent the Police are involved and trusted.

Thank you for your time and God bless us all.

SIGNED
DCP. Don N. Awunah, fsi
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters