A 36-year-old man, Abubakar Halilu, has been arrested by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for plotting the kidnap and homicide of his cousin.
In line with the police, Halilu lured his cousin, a businesswoman, to a kidnappers’ den at the Galadimawa area of Kaduna State and had planned with them to kill her in order that he wouldn’t repay the sum of N1.4 million he owed her. The police say the suspect had driven the victim’s car on the day they were both supposedly kidnapped and held hostage in different parts of the bush just for her car keys and other items in the car to be found in his custody.
He allegedly made preparations with the criminals to gather N100 million as ransom from the girl’s family and kill her afterward, however, luck ran out on him because the victim escaped from the camp where she was held when her captors went out for an operation.
Whereas being interrogated, Halilu mentioned his cousin purchased some tricycles aka Keke Marwa valued at N3.9 million and gave them to him on hire purchase. He claimed he successfully paid N2.5 million and was owing to her a balance of N1.4 million which he didn’t need to pay, including that the day she was kidnapped, he instructed her to escort him to recover money from a debtor.
“I was supposed to have finished payment in December 2020. The total amount was N3.9 million. I have paid her N2.5 million, remaining a balance of N1.4 million
When she called to ask for the balance, I told her I was going to collect my money from someone. After discussing with the person I claimed owed me money, I lured her to accompany me to collect the money from the person but took her to bandits in Galadimawa.
Before I got there, I had discussed with the kidnappers. I knew them at the farm I was going to in Kubu area. I knew they were kidnappers. They were about five in number. In the camp, they have about 50 different gangs. They took me to their house. They have houses in the bush. They have huts where they keep kidnapped victims.
So, as we arrived the place, they kidnapped both of us and took us into the bush and separated us. My plan was for them to kill her. They were supposed to collect N100 million ransom and give me my share before they would kill her. I spent five days with them.
While at the camp, somebody came to take me away. My cousin was able to escape from the initial gang but fell into another kidnap gang’s hands. I don’t know the people in whose hands she fell because I was taken to another camp by the gang that abducted me.
I was the one that drove her in her car to the place I told her I was going to collect money. After we were kidnapped, the kidnappers took the car away to a junction. I told them they should take the car to the road so that people will see it and it would look as if we were indeed kidnapped, but they said people would see it where I parked it.”
Halilu claimed his co-conspirators however held him hostage and demanded that his family should bring money for his release. He said he didn’t know the amount they negotiated with his family but managed to escape the day the ransom was to be paid.
“I managed to escape from their camp on the day payment was supposed to be made. As I was escaping, I begged a farmer I met on the road to give me his phone to contact my people. I told the stranger that I was kidnapped.
I told my people on the phone not to bother to pay money to anybody. I told my people that I escaped when the kidnappers went out. I told them to come and meet me at Iredachi Junction. From there, one of my brothers that came to pick me handed me over to IRT office.” he said
In line with the police, the suspect apparently thought his plans had succeeded and determined to gather all the pieces that were inside the girl’s automobile, adding that he confessed to the crime throughout the interrogation.
The police say he will probably be charged to court as quickly as the investigation is completed.
