Nigeria Police Confirm Identities Of Two Soldiers Who Killed Cleric, Stole His Car In Yobe As Earlier Revealed By SaharaReporters

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday confirmed taking into custody two army officers, suspected of armed robbery and murder of an Islamic cleric, Sheik Goni Aisami in Yobe State.

The spokesperson for the police command in Yobe, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim in a statement noted that the two soldiers, John Gabriel and Adamu Gideon, were arrested at the scene of the crime.

SaharaReporters earlier disclosed the identities of the soldiers who allegedly killed a Yobe-based Islamic scholar at Jajimaji, identifying them as LCPL John Gabriel and LCPL Adamu Gideon, both attached to 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru.

The statement obtained by SaharaReporters reads in part, "In its relentless efforts towards combating crimes and criminality, Yobe State Police Command recorded another milestone in the arrest of suspects (two soldiers) in a case of Armed Robbery and Homicide.

"On 19th August, 2022, detectives from Karasuwa Divisional Police Headquarters in response to a distress call apprehended N/A13/69/1522 Lance Corporal John Gabriel and N/A13/70/6552 Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon both attached to 241 RECCE Battalion, Nguru.

"One of the assailants (L/CPL John Gabriel) whose intention was to rob unsuspecting motorists of their vehicle left the barracks on the date in mufti having concealed his rifle in a camp bed for military checkpoint at Nguru at about 2200hrs.

"Meanwhile, one Sheik Goni Aisami, a prominent Islamic scholar based in Gashua who was travelling alone from Kano to Gashua in his Honda Accord car with Reg. No KBT 31 AE arrived at the military checkpoint at Nguru.

"L/CPL John Gabriel requested the Islamic cleric to offer him a lift to Jaji Maji which he obliged.

"That while driving and before reaching Jaji-Maji town the Assailant asked him to park that there was an unusual noise at the rear tyre.

"That when the cleric came down while checking the tyre, the suspect brought out his rifle, shot and killed him. He dragged the body and hid it in the bush.

"The suspect took possession of the vehicle with intention of taking it away but the vehicle refused to start after several attempts.

"The suspect called his accomplice L/CPL Adamu Gideon from 241 RECCE Battalion Nguru and an auto-electrician from Jaji Maji to assist in starting the car.

"However, nemesis caught up with the culprits when a passerby going to his farm early in the morning sighted a corpse, a vehicle and some people then alerted the police from Jaji who promptly mobilized and raced down to the scene.

"This led to the arrest of the two soldiers and recovery of the corpse, decease vehicle and the rifle used in the commission of the offence.

"In addition, a Volkswagen Sharon bus found at the scene of the crime was also recovered.

"In the course of investigation, the culprits confessed to the crime. Investigation is still ongoing; suspects are in police custody and as soon as investigation is concluded they will be charged to court."

Similarly, the police busted a kidnap syndicate on August 14, 2022 and arrested the suspected kingpin who had been terrorising communities in some parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

 It was learnt that detectives from Crack Squad, Damaturu, acting on credible and actionable intelligence, trailed and arrested Jobdi Muhammadu, 42, a herdsman while planning to kidnap someone from Buni Yadi community in the Gujba Local Government Area of the state.

At the time of the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a loaded AK47 rifle, according to the police.

In addition, detectives from Potiskum Divisional Police Headquarters, arrested two robbery suspects who specialise in burglary and carjacking.

"A case in point, is that on 19th August, 2022 at about 1400hrs, one Abdul Ibrahim of Damboa went to Access Bank in Potiskum and withdrew a large sum of money.

"The suspects namely: Yahaya Sunusi aged 48 yrs and Mohammed Musa aged 47 yrs all from Kano State trailed the said Abdul after leaving the bank.

"The suspects broke into the car and stole the sum of N1,200,000.00. The suspects were promptly arrested by the police, then the money recovered. They will be charged to court at the completion of investigation," Abdulkarim said.