The Department of State Services said it had arrested Barnabas Torva Amadu , who was accused of being a member of a gang that kidnapped and killed Mr. Hosea Ibi. Ibi, until he was kidnapped and killed, was a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly. The service said Amadu was arrested on February 25, at Takum in Taraba State, when a joint team of service operatives and the military arrested the 23 year old Isaiah Suwe.
Suwe was said to have led the team to Gbise Village, Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State where Madu and members of his gang were arrested. A statement signed by the spokesperson for the DSS, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, in Abuja on Tuesday, listed other arrested members of Suwe’s gang as Aondi Tersoo, Nengenen Mbaawuaga Damian, Aondoase Kayitor, and Ternenge Terso.
Suwe was described as an accomplice of an alleged kidnapper, Terwase Akwaza (a. k. a. Ghana) who is on the wanted list of security agencies, while Amnadu, aged 23, was said to have participated in the kidnap and murder of the lawmaker in January. About nine SIM cards, different telephone brands and accessories as well as a First Bank ATM Card, a flash drive, one voter card and one identity card said to have belonged to Moses Yaro, a member of Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Taraba State were said to have been recovered from the gang.
Also on February 21, at Igu area of Benin City, Edo State, Opuiyo stated that the service arrested five members of the notorious Gemere kidnap gang which operates along the Lokoja Okene highway. Those said to have been arrested are: Usman Umaru, Abubakar Umaru, Garba Umar, Smally, Abubakar Garba and Umar Bello.
