By Aisha Maikudi Abdulkadir
Operatives of the Niger State Police Command have arrested two kidnap suspects, Japhta James, aged 28 and Usman Ibrahim aged 30.
The suspects who reside in Ijah-Gwari, Tafa and Sabon-Gari, Bwari area of FCT, respectively, broke into their victim’s home with weapons.
They were said to have entered the premises of their victim in Kata via New-Bwari and attempted to kidnap his sister, when operatives of the Tafa Police Division, following a tip-off, immediately rushed to the scene, leading to the suspects’ arrest.
The suspects were arrested with a locally made pistol, two knives, a walkie-talkie, two cartridges, four handsets, one ATM card, two electric tasers, a pepper spray and some charms.
When interrogated, the suspects confessed to the crime, saying that they arranged to kidnap the lady in order to request for ransom.
They claimed that the items recovered were bought from one of their members under the disguise of a civilian JTF.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday night, saying the two suspects were under investigation and would be prosecuted later.
“On 13th June, 2025 at about 8 pm, based on a distress call received, police operatives attached to Tafa Div arrested two suspects, namely: Japhta James, 28 yrs of Ijah-Gwari, Tafa-Usman Ibrahim, 30 yrs of Sabon-Gari, Bwari area of FCT.
“The two suspects were reported to have entered the premises of a victim in Kata via New-Bwari and attempted to kidnap his sister. The Police operatives of Tafa Div were immediately contacted and rushed to the scene, which led to the arrest.
“They were arrested with a locally made pistol, two knives, a walkie-talkie, two cartridges, four handsets, one ATM card, two electric tasers, a pepper spray and some charms.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime that the two of them arranged to abduct the lady in order to request ransom, while they claimed that the items recovered were bought from one of their members under the disguise of civilian JTF.
“The two suspects are under investigation and they will soon be transferred to SCID for further investigation and prosecution,” Abiodun said.