Operatives
of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris’s Special
Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested some men who confessed
to have received over 100 exotic cars from suspected kidnappers and
robbers.
The suspects, without mincing words, said they bought
the cars, quite aware they were stolen. They also admitted to have
received the cars from kidnappers and armed robbers. The men said always
fraternised with suspected robbers and kidnappers.
The suspects
have been identified as Abdulrahman Hassan 42, aka Risi, Abubakar Datti
45, aka Baballiya, Aminu Adamu Yakasi, 49 and Shuaibu Yahaya 48. The
suspects were said to have been arrested in Kano State. One of them,
Yakasi, confessed to have sold a stolen car to the leader of the gang
that kidnapped Mikel Obi’s father.
Yakasi said: “I sold a Peugeot
607 to one Dogo who took part in the kidnap of John Mikel Obi’s father.
When the police arrested Dogo he told them that I sold a vehicle to
him. The police came after me. I ran to Niger Republic. I hid there for a
week before I returned to Nigeria. I was arrested after I returned.”
The
crackdown on the suspects began after IRT operatives arrested some
suspects for the kidnap of the Deputy High Commissioner to Sierra Leone,
Major- General Alfred Claude-Nelson and the Executive Director of
Dangote Group, Engineer Alhaji Mansur Ahmed.
A police source
said: “It was after the arrest of those that kidnapped the Deputy High
Commissioner to Sierra Leone Major-General Alfred Claude-Nelson and the
Executive Director of Dangote Group, Engineer Alhaji Mansur Ahmed, that
further revelations were made by suspected kidnappers.
“The
suspects mentioned syndicates that specialised in receiving victims’
cars from them. It was based on follow up to their confessions that IRT
operatives moved to Kano State. The four suspects were arrested.
They
confessed to have received more than 100 exotic cars from different
gangs of armed robbers and kidnappers. One of the cars is the 4-Runner
Jeep belonging to the Deputy High Commissioner. The syndicate usually
moves the cars to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
They
hand the cars over to various agents. One of the agents has been
identified as an Alfa. The Alfa is the one in possession of the 4-Runner
Jeep of the Deputy High Commissioner. Other agents are Garba, Dauda and
Mallam Haruna.”
Hassan said he used to sell rams at Dei- Dei
Market, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, before one Usman Zamfara
initiated him into the business of receiving and selling stolen cars in
2009. He was first arrested in 2011 by policemen from Delta State,
charged to court and jailed for receiving a stolen Honda CRV from one
Ebele, in Warri, Delta State.
Hassan said that after Ebele was
arrested, he led policemen to arrest him. Rather than quit buying of
stolen vehicles, Hassan went back to his old ways after leaving prison.
Hassan said: “I got bailed a year later and went back to my business. In
2015, I met Suraju, who is now dead.
He promised to always
supply stolen cars to me. He gave me two cars; a Toyota Lexus 300, which
I bought for N350, 000 and Honda Accord Hennessey, which I bought for
N150, 000.” According to Hassan, before Suraju died, he linked him to
Balarabe Mohammed who sold a stolen Toyota Corolla 2002 model, to him
for N450, 000 and 2009 model Toyota Four Runner, which he bought for
N1.2m. Hassan said: “I sold these vehicles to one Alfa who is based in
Niger Republic.
I sold the Toyota Corolla for N700, 000 to Alfa.
He also bought the Toyota Four Runner for N1.6m. Alfa paid N650, 000 for
the Lexus and N330, 000 for the Honda Hennessey. I knew the vehicles
were all stolen.
That was why I didn’t sell them in Nigeria. I took
them to Niger Republic.” He explained that Mohammed also brought a 2014
model Audi Squadron Saloon car for N700, 000.
He later sold the car to Garba Maradi, living in Maradi Town, Niger Republic, for N1m.
Hassan
said: “I received two Honda Hennessey cars, 1998 Models from Babagana. I
bought each for N400, 000. I bought a Volkswagen Golf car, from Alhaji
Tasiu of Plateau State for N350, 000. I gave these vehicles to my ‘boy,’
Abubakar Datti, who moved them to my new buyer, Maradi, in Niger
Republic.
I was paid N1.4m for the three vehicles. I gave Datti,
N170, 000 as his share and kept the rest. After my arrest by the IRT
operatives, I assisted on recovering one of the vehicles, which was the
2014 Audi Squadron.
I was forced to refund the sum of N500, 000
to Maradi. My son went to Niger and brought the vehicle to the police.”
Another suspect, Yahaya, an engine oil merchant, who also sells spare
parts, said he ventured into buying and selling of stolen cars in 2012.
He
said his friend; Ali Yahaya, introduced him to the business. He said
Ali supplied him four vehicles: Honda Haller, Brama Honda, Honda Civic
and Honda Arcadia. He sold the Haller to a medical doctor for N220, 000,
the Brama for N270, 000, the Civic for N180, 000 and the Arcadia to a
banker for just N200, 000. Yahaya said: “I got my commissions from the
proceeds of the sale of the cars. But a few months later, Ali was
arrested by policemen from Zone 1 Police Command, Kano State. He led
them to arrest me.
I was charged to court and sentenced to three
years.” Just like his friend Hassan, Yahaya went back to his vomit after
leaving prison. He said that moments after leaving prison, a contact
supplied him a 2013 model, Toyota Camry car. He sold it to Daudu Maradi
in Niger Republic for N400, 000.
He said the car was supplied by
Suraju. After selling it, he gave Suraju N350, 000 and took N50, 000 as
his commission. He said this happened just five months ago. Yahaya said:
“Later, I met one Abubakar Datti. He gave me one Toyota Sienna, which I
sold to Maigida, residing in Nassaraw State. Maigida paid N400, 000 for
it. Datti also brought another Toyota Camry, which I took to Maidiga
again.
He paid N350, 000.” Narrating his own story, Yakassi said
he started receiving stolen cars in 2008. In 2010, he bought a stolen
1986 model Honda Accord Saloon car from one Alhaji Mohammed. He paid
N300, 000 for the car. Alhaji Mohammed was later arrested and he led the
police to Yakassi. Yakassi recounted: “After I was released, I went
back to my business.
I received a 2010 Toyota Camry from one
Dikko. I paid him N1m. I drove the car to Niamey in Niger Republic and
sold it to one Iliya for N1.5m. I was later arrested by policemen from
Kano State and charged to court. I spent eight months in prison before I
was granted bail.
A month ago, I received a Toyota Hilux from
one Jibril Danfulani, who had links with a notorious robbery and kidnap
gang. I paid him N900, 000. I drove the vehicle personally to Maradi
Town and sold it to one Mallam Haruna. I sold it to him for N1.3m. I
also bought three vehicles: two Toyota Carina E cars and one Mercedes
Benz.
One of the Toyota Carina cars was from a certain Baffa. I
bought it from him for N300, 000 and bought the second one from
Afamtama, in Bauchi State, for N130, 000. I bought the Mercedes Benz for
N500,000. When I was arrested by IRT, they recovered the last three
vehicles from me.” Yakassi further confessed to have also assisted a
syndicate that specialised in hijacking loaded trucks on expressway, to
get buyers.
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