Two Nabbed Over Abduction Of American

The Nigeria police says it has arrested two persons in connection with the abduction of Philip Walton, an American.

Citynews Nigeria reports that Frank Mba, the police spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Walton was reportedly kidnapped on October 28 in Masalata village, Niger Republic but was brought to Nigeria.

He, however, regained his freedom three days later after a US special forces carried out a rescue operation on one the hideouts in Northern Nigeria where he was held hostage.

According to the statement, the suspects are 21-year-old Aliyu Abdullahi and 23-year-old Aliyu Umaru from Sokoto State.

Mba said the suspects were arrested on November 25 after a special intelligence-led operation.

He disclosed that investigation revealed that the gang was planning other abductions as a retaliation for the death of their members who died during the rescue operation.

“The two (2) suspects – members of a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/Nigerien extraction, led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda – were arrested following a special intelligence-led operation aimed at arresting the criminal gang, disrupting and halting other criminal activities by them,” the statement reads.

“Investigations by the Intelligence Response Team reveal that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – 4 Nigeriens and 2 Nigerians who died during the rescue operations.

“The Force is collaborating with its Nigerien counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large.”

Mba said that the inspector-general of police is working closely with other members of the West African police chiefs organisation (WAPCO), to build a strong and effective security and intelligence sharing community along the borders of member states.

“The suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations,” Mba added.