Police arrest eight suspected kidnappers, armed robbers in Abuja (Photo)

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police' (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Technical Intelligence Support (TIS) have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Shehu Shagari, 27, and seven other persons terrorizing commuters along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

Shagari, described as the gang's third in command and informant, was arrested alongside
the leader, Adamu Mamman (35), Ali Rabo aka Blacky; Umar Antijo (27), Awwalu Ahmadu (27) and receivers of rustled cattle and stolen items - Babangida Abdullahi (31), Usman Abdulmumin, (27) and Ahmad Abdullahi (31).

The suspects, according to the police, are natives of Amana, Liman, Rijana, Gadan Gayan villages in Kaduna State.

The gang was said to be responsible for the abduction of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Munir, who is attached to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, a retired police Sergeant and chauffeur to the Chairman of Senate Committee on Police Affairs.

Also abducted are students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) - Idris Goga, Simon Terna, Kazzah Bulus and Ibrahim Kalin.

The suspects also confessed to the abduction and murder of a student of Nuhu Bamalli University, Augustine Climax, whose corpse was dumped in the river.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested on Saturday while on their way to their respective villages to see their family members.

Police said, "Many of the victims, including the DSP have identified the gang leader, second and third in command as those responsible for their kidnap. They said most of their members wererelocating because of the Massive deployment of security forces.

"The suspects said there are two major groups of kidnappers operating within Rijana axis of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. Suspects are assisting IRT operatives in tracing the second group.

"Victim's phones, N17,000, sim cards, charms, cutlasses and two pairs of army uniforms were recovered from the kidnappers. Serious efforts to arrest remaining gang members in progress."