Kidnappers kill Dangote Group’s strategist; 3 arrested

THREE suspects, who allegedly abducted a top management staff of Dangote Group, Istifanus Bello Gurama, and killed him after three weeks in captivity, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, ITR.

Police sources told Vanguard that Gurama, a senior strategist of the company, was killed because the kidnappers felt he knew too much about them.

The suspects, Abubakar Gide, 24; Babuga Adamu, 25, and Abdulahi Saliu, 22, were arrested at Ijebu Igbo forest, Ogun State; Epe forest in Lagos State, and Ipo forest in Kwara State, respectively, by the operatives led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

The police also recovered three AK-47 rifles and 167 live ammunition, which the suspects allegedly buried in the forest.

It was gathered that the suspects kidnapped four expatriates and a Nigerian working with the company in Ijebu-Igbo area of Ogun State, on November 9, and were said to have demanded for over N100 million from the company as ransom.

Sources disclosed to Vanguard that after several negotiations, the company was said to have sent Gurama to secure the release of his colleagues.

After the release of the five victims, the kidnappers allegedly abducted Gurama.

Sources at Ogun State Police Command alleged that the kidnappers then made a new demand of N200 million for his release. But apprehension set in when neither Gurama nor the kidnappers could be reached anymore.

The company then decided to alert the Inspector General of Police, who drafted his men to investigate the matter.

Body found in a pit

Gurama’s corpse was said to have been found inside a pit at Ijebu Igbo forest where the incident took place.

According to a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity: “The kidnappers said the deceased was their actual target. They claimed he knew too much about them. So they killed him.”

Force Headquarters’ spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dan Awunah, said: “It was when the Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris, learned of the incident that he directed the IRT to fish out the kidnappers. One of them was arrested at Ijebu Igbo forest, the other one at Epe forest in Lagos and the third one 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.”

Source: Vanguard