From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Four suspects alleged to have been terrorising students and other residents of ATC, around the Taraba State University environment.
Students have been attached and robbed with some sustaining knife injuries in recent weeks with rising cases of burglary and snatching of phones and general harassments by hoodlums.
Police spokesman in the State SP Abdullahi Usman who confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday in Jalingo said that phones, electronics and other items were recovered from the suspects who have confessed to the crimes and are providing useful information to aid investigations.
“Yesterday, at about 0900hrs operatives of Kofai Police Station attached to Sunkani Division Ardo-Kola LGA succeeded in breaking the syndicate of some miscreants and arresting the following suspects who have been terrorizing and robbing Students and community around Taraba State University Jalingo. They include JOSEPH DESMOND’M'(AKA DAN-BACHAMA) of Rugange Village, Numan LGA Adamawa State, SWAIBU SAMBU’M'(AKA DAN-KONA) of Kofai Village, Ardo Kola LGA Taraba State, DANLADI IBRAHIM ‘M’ OF KARIM KAMIDO LGA Taraba State, and DOUGLAS JOHN ‘M’ OF Hong LGA Adamawa State.
“The suspects upon arrest have confessed to the crime, and they are giving useful information to the Police that will lead to the arrest of their cohorts now at large”.
The command has also confirmed the kidnapping of Two persons along Mararaban Apawa-Zing road, contrary to social media reports that hundreds of persons were kidnapped.
According to Usman, “on 7th October, 2023 at about 0955hrs, the Taraba State Police Command received information that there were sporadic gunshots along Mararraban Yorro, Zing Jalingo road by unknown gunmen. The Command CP on receipt of the information, deployed the operatives of Special Taskforce based at the Command’s Headquarters to the area. Upon arrival, it was discovered that hoodlums suspected to be Armed robbers/Kidnappers blocked the road, and were shooting sporadically.
“The operatives engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. However, Two(2) persons were confirmed to be abducted and some unspecified valuables belonging to the commuters returning from Pupule and Monkin markets respectively were carted away by the hoodlums.
“The Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Police Command CP Yusuf A. Suleiman(psc+)mni, enjoined members of the public to disregard the trending reports making news on social media, that it is misleading, mischievous, and misinforming. While the Command is working assiduously to rescue the kidnapped victims unharmed and possibly arrest the culprits, the CP further assures Tarabans that the Command will always remain resolute in its efforts to assuage the citizens from the menace of crime and criminality in the State” the statement read in parts.