By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA—A team of policemen from Force Headquarters, made up operatives of Intelligence Response Team and Technical Intelligence Unit, have arrested 14 deadly kidnappers and robbers terrorising Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway.

The gang was said to be responsible for the abduction and killing of many travellers, including the murder of Dr. Ibrahim Mailafia, a Senior Lecturer with the Nasarawa State University, Lafia.

The Police recovered two AK-47 rifles, pistol and the victim’s iPhone.

A police statement said: “The arrest is due to follow-up on the murder of Dr. Ibrahim Mailafia on November 3, 2017 between Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway by deadly kidnappers/robbers, while on his way to Kano to visit his family after obtaining a doctorate degree on Artificial Intelligence from United Kingdom.

“The suspects arrested include Sunday Jatau, 35, a native of Kaduna State, the leader of the gang, who confessed to have personally shot and killed Dr. Mailafia.

“Others are Solomon Jatau, 40; Ayuba Jatau, 32, both brothers to the gang leader; Ishaku Luka aka Dogo, who sells arms and ammunition to the gang, aged 42 and a native of Kujama, Kaduna; Bature Adamu, 38, and Bello Abdullahi, 32.

“Others are Mamuda Mohammed, 27; Ibrahim Daniel, 27, native of Chad Republic, who was found in possession of the late Dr. Mailafia’s phones; Emmanuel Garba, 27, native of Ekot-Epene in Akwa Ibom State.

“The receivers of stolen goods are Alhaji Usman Mohammed, 35; Alhaji Ibrahim Baba, 49; Bello Aliyu, 36; Surajo Mohammed, 35, and Hassan Ibrahim, 55.”