NSCDC Arrests 70 Suspects For Various Offences In Edo

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested 70 suspects for their various involvements in kidnapping, rape, logistics supplies, and criminal disposition in the Okpella area of Edo State.

In a statement, the Commandant of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Appollos Dandaura, said the criminal elements disguised themselves as illegal miners and charcoal vendors in the Okpella area of Edo State.

According to him, the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi gave a directive to launch an aggressive onslaught against unscrupulous elements terrorizing the peace of Edo State and those culpable for the massacre of 8 personnel attached to BUA Cement Company last month.”

“The CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, led by the Commandant, collaborated with the men of the Nigerian Army and the General Manager of BUA International Cement, Mr. Richard Gidado, to launch an aggressive onslaught against the crime perpetrators.”

He said during the clearance operation, the team uncovered and dismantled some criminal hideouts used for housing kidnapped victims and rescued some of them including one Mrs. Agbe Martha who had been in captivity for over 7 days alongside her sister while working on their farmland in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Commandant Dandaura noted that collaborative efforts in dismantling the kidnap syndicate and their criminal hideouts in the area underscored the CG’s commitment to combating crime and criminalities as well as ensuring the protection of lives and property of citizens in Edo state and, by extension, the nation at large, noting that further investigation and diligent prosecution would be carried out in due course.

PR/Nkiru Njemanze