TWO KIDNAPPERS TO BE ARRAIGNED BEFORE A YOLA HIGH COURT TODAY

Two suspected kidnappers are to be arraigned before a Yola High Court in Adamawa state today.

The suspects, Mohammed Abubakar and Mohammed Goni, who were apprehended in Girei and Song Local Government Areas of the state respectively, are expected to appear before High Court of Justice presided by Hon. Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri today.

One of the suspect, Mohammed Abubakar hail from Madugu in Girei LGA will be charged to Court for alleged kidnapping contrary to section 248(9) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law, 2018, and punishable under section 248(b) of the same Code.

The commencement of trial of the defendant is in pursuant to section 111(b) of the Adamawa state Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

According to First Information Report, the suspect and 2 others at large, while armed with guns on 18th May, 2019, unlawfully kidnapped and held for ransom one Abiola Dubagari of Bajam in Girei LGA and in the course of which they shot and killed, Dubagari, the father of the victim.

Equally, on 16th June, 2019, at Sangere FUTY, in Girei LGA, the suspect with 2 others now at large while armed with guns, carried away and held for ransom, one Caleb Francis.

In his confessional statement, the suspect said on the 18th May, 2019, he advised one of their gang members to go down to Bajam village, a Yungur community in Girei LGA to kidnap Abiola who had a car, saying that they also called other gang member and went to the village together.

He narrated that while armed with guns, they arrived the village in the night and that himself and one other entered the young man's house, while one other was left outside to man the gate, saying that they picked the young man, covered his face and left to the bush.

He added that while taking their victim to the bush, they heard a gun shot, but when they later saw one of their men who was asked to man the gate, they asked him about the gun shot, and he told them that he shot and killed Dubagari, the father of Abiola, whom they abducted.

Mohammed said they later asked Abiola to give them the sum of #100,000, but he (Abiola) told them that he did not have the money.

He stated that they later told their victim to go and bury his father on condition that he will bring the money the next day immediately after the burial.

He said that after Abiola committed his father to the mother earth, he brought #40,000, on that fateful day, explaining that they collected they money and warned him to ensure the completion of the remaining balance which he did at later date.

While on his part, the other suspect, Mohammed Goni of Sabin Pegi GRA Song, in Song LGA will be prosecuted for false representation as a kidnapper or abducted person contrary and punishable under section 252(2) of Adamawa state Penal Law.

NEWS PLATFORM gathered that in September 2019, at Sigire, a village along Song-Gombi road, the suspect under false pretence, represented himself as a kidnapped person for the purpose of extorting money from Alh. Husseini Garba, his boss.

He narrated that in September last year, he (the suspect) left his house and later called his wife and told her to notify his boss that he (the suspect) had been kidnapped and his abductors were demanding money from him to secure his release.

Goni disclosed that when he released himself and came back home the following morning, he told sympathizers that his abductors released him on condition that he will be given them the sum of #150,000, to add to the little he had given them, or else the said kidnappers will come after him again.

According to him, his sympathisers contributed the sum of #50,000 to add to the little he had, saying that a month after, he bought a new sim card, changed his voice, called his boss and demanded the sum of #100,000 from him.

He pointed out that he directed his boss to go and give the money to his son ie the suspect's son, and his boss did as he(Goni) commanded, saying when he collected the money from his biological son, he used it and repaired his car.

Goni narrated that 3 months later, his 5 year old son, Abubakar Goni felt sick and when he took him to the hospital in Song, the doctor told him that his son needed blood and he was without a dime.

According to him, he decided to call one Igbo man, Innocent Nkapuchire, where he told him that he was kidnapper and asked him to give him #500,000, or else he will be kidnapped, so as to get money that he will use to purchase blood and treat his son.

He revealed that the Igbo man told him that he had #10,000 only but he (Goni) later called him and told him to add #10,000 so as to make it #20,000.

He pointed out that when Innocent agreed, he asked him to bring the money to TC Song, but he refused and said except if he( suspect) will come to his workshop and collect the money.

Mohammed Goni said that when he came and collected the money at the workshop, on his way back, he was apprehended by local hunters and handed over to the Nigerian Army who brought him to CID, Yola.