Ebun Francis
Barely hours after the news of the murder of the chief strategist of Dangote Industries ltd, Istafanus Gurama,Operatives of the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team have arrested the suspected kidnappers.
The suspects, Abubakar Gide (24), Babuga Adamu (25) and Abdulahi Saliu(22) were arrested at Ijebu-Igbo forest, Epe forest in Lagos and Ipo forest in Kwara State. The team led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, recovered three AK47 rifles and 167 live ammunition.The suspects according to sources close to the operatives led the police to where they buried the deceased.
The late chief strategist of Dangote Industries ltd was taken hostage about three weeks ago at Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, while on a mission to negotiate the release of four expatriates and a Nigerian working with the company. But in a twist of fate, Gurama, who usually negotiates with kidnappers and takes ransom to them, was detained by the gunmen and ransom demanded for his release.
Even though the company raised the said money for his release, the kidnappers collected the ransom, killed and dumped his body in a pit at Ijebu-Igbo.
Mr Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Police spokesman while confirming the arrest of the suspects, however advised Nigerians to exercise caution in negotiating with and delivering ransom to kidnappers.
According to him, “It was when IGP Ibrahim Idris learnt of the incident that he directed the IRT to fish out the kidnappers.
“One of them was arrested at Ijebu Igbo forest, the other at Epe forest in Lagos and the third at Ipo forest in Kwara State.
‘’The crime was committed at Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. The suspects are being interrogated and would be prosecuted at the conclusion of investigation.”