Woman Arrested for Keeping Kidnappers’ Weapons

The Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) arrested a 28-year-old woman, Fátima Garba, considered to be armor for bandits in Sokoto and other states.

She was arrested alongside her alleged kidnapping gang members.

The gang was operating in the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger, police said.

Force spokesman DCP Frank Mba said in a statement that, as a gunsmith, Fatima is responsible for ensuring the safety of the bandits’ weapons whenever not in use.

Police said Fatima, who confessed of being the gang’s owner for more than a year, claimed to receive a nice reward each time the weapons were returned to her after each operation.

Police said she acknowledged knowing that the arms she kept in a well-dug hole in her compound were used for assault, kidnapping and other criminal purposes.

“Investigations show that Fátima, who is a merchant and single mother of two children, was recruited by her boyfriend Abubakar Usman.

“Five AK47 rifles, a G3 rifle, a Beretta pistol, 1476 rounds of ammunition, 36 rounds of G3 rounds, six AK47 rounds, one operational vehicle, eight cell phones and a box containing operational tools are recovered from the gang.

“All suspects will be prosecuted in court at the conclusion of the investigations,” the statement said.

The statement said the police also bursted a car theft ring led by Bashir Isiaku, 34, known for stealing cars from Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The arrest of Bashir, a polytechnic graduate, followed efforts and thorough investigations by STS agents, according to the statement.

Police said Bashir and his accomplice, Aminu Yakubu, specialized in using personalized master keys created with a screwdriver to open and start vehicles.

Police investigations have shown that the criminals prefer cars without special safety features, such as a pedal or steering lock, Mba said.