Yahaya Zakka
Niger State Police Command has respond to an online publication which stated that there was an assassination attempt of Senator in Minna, which is untrue and false.
According to a statement credited to the Police Public Relation officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun stated the fact of the incident is that on 03/12/2022 at about 1900hrs, based on a distress call received that some strange suspicious persons, driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with Reg. No. FKJ 814 GP invaded the house of a Senator, located at Tudun-Wada, Minna.
The Command immediately mobilised tactical teams to the scene and the following suspects were arrested;
-Oladele Peter Akano aged 49yrs ‘m’ of Kuruduma, Abuja
-Abdul Salisu aged 31yrs ‘m’ of Gwagwalada, Abuja
-Felix Clarkson aged 47yrs ‘m’ of Karo Abuja
-Babagana Alhaji aged 39yrs ‘m’ of Chideri-Polo, Maiduguri
During interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were mobilised by one Sherrif, a purported whistleblower who was reportedly claiming to be working with a security agency at Abuja but presently at large.
The said Sherrif invited Akano, who is a teacher in a private school at Abuja. He also invited Clarkson, an instructor in a private institute ‘INSMO’ Abuja, Salisu who is a plumber from Gwagwalada, provided hammer and chisel for house breaking and Babagana Alhaji, with five others presently at large.
Suspects confessed further that Sherrif stated there are foreign currency and arms kept in the residence of the Politician, hence they travelled from Abuja to Minna for a purported execution of search without any warrant.
However, on getting to the residence, the security operatives attached to the house suspected the fake team and raised alarm for reinforcement, while the Police operatives attached to Tudun-Wada Div and Anti-kidnapping team of the Command were drafted to the scene.
Four among the suspects were arrested with the said Toyota Sienna vehicle, while others took to their heels, on sighting the Police reinforcement teams.
Meanwhile, suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna for discreet investigation and investigation is ongoing with a view to apprehend other members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele J. Ayodeji, psc(+) hereby enjoins members of the public to disregard such report of assassination attempt of a Senator, as the said Politician was not in Minna as at the time of the incident.
