The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested one Sadiq Abubakar ‘m’ 31yrs old from Kogi State and one Peter Moses ‘m’ 25yrs old from Kaduna State who abducted a 22yr-old lady [name withheld] to a location in Suleja, Niger State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports both Abubakar and Moses held the lady hostage, raped her and extorted money from her parents as ransom before she was eventually released.
Investigations reveal that the suspects, who are serial virtual kidnappers, usually meet their victims on social media platforms particularly, Facebook, and thereafter lure them to their criminal hideout before subjecting them to sexual molestation and further obtaining ransom from their families.
According to a statement released by CP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters following arrest of the suspects, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has advised users of the social media to remain circumspect and protect themselves from cyber crooks masquerading as online friends.
According to the statement, the Police also intercepted three (3) suspects, Emmanuel Joel 42yrs, Ayuba Joel, 30yrs, Hassan Umar, 30yrs on 28th August, 2021, in possession of one AK49 rifle loaded with fourteen live ammunition and twenty-six (26) AK47 magazines, at a border town between Nasarawa and Taraba State.
The statement reads: “…the Police team arrested one Sadiq Abubakar ‘m’ 31yrs old from Kogi State and one Peter Moses ‘m’ 25yrs old from Kaduna State who abducted a 22yr-old lady to a location in Suleja.
“The suspects held the young lady hostage, had repeated canal knowledge of the victim and extorted money from her parents as ransom before her release.
“Investigations by the Police team show that the suspects, who are serial virtual kidnappers, usually meet their victims on social media platforms particularly, Facebook, and thereafter lure them to their criminal hideout before subjecting them to sexual molestation and further obtaining ransom from their families.
“The Police operatives also intercepted three (3) suspects, Emmanuel Joel 42yrs, Ayuba Joel, 30yrs, Hassan Umar, 30yrs on 28th August, 2021, in possession of one AK49 rifle loaded with fourteen live ammunition and twenty-six (26) AK47 magazines, at a border town between Nasarawa and Taraba State.
“Investigations by the Police team revealed that the suspects are criminal arms dealers who supply weapons to criminal elements in Nasarawa and Taraba States. Efforts are being intensified to arrest members of the gang currently at large.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), fdc, NPM has assured that the Force is committed to working with law abiding citizens to secure the nation and reduce crimes to the barest minimum in the country.
“He advised users of the social media to remain circumspect and protect themselves from cyber crooks masquerading as online friends. All the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigations”.