John Shiklam in Kaduna
Six people have been arrested by the Kaduna State command of the State Security Services (SSS) in connection with the recent abduction and killing of the traditional ruler of the Adara people, the Agom Adara, Maiwada Raphael Galadima.
The late traditional ruler was abducted with his wife in the wake of the Kasuwan Magani clashes on October 19 while traveling from Kaduna to Kachia, his domain.
Though his wife was later released, the kidnappers killed the traditional ruler after a N10 million ransom was said to have been paid to them.
Parading the suspects yesterday in Kaduna, the SSS Director, Mahmud Ningi, said six out of the 20 suspects were picked up.
Ningi said the command has mounted a manhunt for the remaining 14 suspects across the country.
He said the SSS was keeping track of the activities of the criminals during the negotiation for ransom, but could not effect arrest because the safety of the victim was paramount.
“Immediately after the Galadima’s body was discovered, we tracked and arrested six members of the syndicate at different locations in the state.
“During preliminary interrogation, they made confessional statements about their involvement in the crime,” the SSS director said.
He gave the names of the suspects arrested as: Adamu Sani, 36; Adamu Saidu, 25, who was identified as a marked Boko Haram member; Aminu Isya, 20, and Yusuf Bello, 32.
Others, according to Ningi, are Dahiru Muhammad Bello, 28, and Mohammed Aminu, who is said to be the syndicate arms supplier and who led the operatives of the SSS to his accomplices in Jos, Plateau State, where eight locally made guns were recovered.
Ningi said the Service would ensure proper prosecution of the suspects, adding that efforts were being made to arrest other members of the gang.
Meanwhile the Kaduna State Government has commended security agents for arresting the suspected killers of the traditional ruler.
The state government in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to the state Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, described the arrest as a breakthrough, and called for thorough investigations and diligent prosecution of the suspects.
“The Kaduna State Government welcomes the arrest of suspects in the kidnap and murder of Agom Adara, Dr. Galadima.
“The government commends the security agencies for this breakthrough, and urges that all agencies must do their best to conclude investigations, arraign the suspects before a competent court and ensure that justice is done.
“Diligent prosecution of criminal suspects is vital to the social order, and we assure the victims that they will get justice as a signal to criminals the inevitability of punishment,” the statement said.
