From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested a suspected member of a criminal gang, Saalumun Waako A.K.A Osama for alledgedly been responsible for the gruesome killing of late Dr Terkula Suswam, an elder brother to Senator Gabriel Suswam.
The late Dr Terkula Suswam was murdered on March 2, 2021 at Ayiin village, Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State by gunmen.
The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, CP Bola Longe confirmed the arrest of the suspected killer of Dr Suswam while parading 68 criminal suspects in Lafia, the state capital last Friday.
CP Longe said the suspected killer, Mr Waako who has been on the wanted list of Benue Police Command for offences ranging from kidnapping, homicide to armed robbery was arrested alongside five members of his gang and had been handed over to Benue State Police Command for further investigation.
CP Longe explained that the arrests of the suspected assasins was due to credible information at the disposal of the Police command, which indicated that, the gang had concluded plans to strike at some locations within Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.
“They intended carrying out this atrocious act around Uke, Nyanya Gwandara areas and along Keffi-Abuja express road. Consequently, the Police Command raised a formidable team of detectives and operational personnel as a proactive step to prevent them from actualising their aim and also arrest these criminal elements.
“This measure paid off on 2/7/2021 at about 1930hrs, when a vehicle conveying the syndicate, comprising seven members were trailed and blocked at a spot along Keffi-Abuja road and the suspected occupants of the vehicle namely; Paul Aba, Fredrick James, Tersoo Zugu, Saalumun Waako A.k.A Osama, Kenneth Samuel and Simon Achano, all males were arrested, while the 7th member of the gang escaped.
“Consequently, a thorough search of the suspect’s vehicle and their criminal hide-out was conducted and the following exhibits recovered: Two Berreta pistol, three Volkswagen Golf cars which they admitted were bought from the proceeds of their nefarious activities and deployed for criminal activities,” he said.
Others paraded were seven suspected criminals, arrested for fraudulent transaction and unlawful possession of fake currencies to the tune of N7.8 million and $1,10,000.
He said the counterfeit currencies recovered have been taken to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for further necessary action as investigation was ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia.
CP Longe warned all criminal elements in the state and their allies who may be nursing agenda that are inimical to the safety and security of the state, to desist from such act as the Police in the State will not relent in mobilising all resources within its reach to arrest and prosecute them according to the law.
He lauded the continual cooperation and support of the traditional rulers,other security agencies, public spirited individuals and groups for providing information to the police even as he called for more synergy among them.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice, one of the suspected hired assasins, Kenneth Samuel said he only met the suspected killer of Late Dr Suswam two months ago when he moved into his neighbourhood.
“I met Osama when he packed into our area from Benue State, but I never knew Osama was an armed robber. He said he has killed many people in Benue before coming to Karu LGA. He has been taken to Benue State but I didn’t know him when he was in Benue. I didn’t know that he was a bad person,” he said.
The police also recovered 7 firearms, 7 live ammunition, 4 Vehicles, 1 motorcycle, 17 General Service Mobile (GSM) handsets among others.