Police nab suspects over convoy attack on Apostle Suleiman

The Police announced on Thursday that they have apprehended a suspect in connection with the attack on Apostle Johnson Suleiman’s convoy on October 21, 2022, along the Benin-Auchi road. CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja.

Adejobi stated that the suspect was a member of a seven-man gang responsible for the brutal attack on the clergyman’s convoy, resulting in the gruesome murder of six individuals, including three police officers. Through extensive investigation into the fatal incident, the suspect was captured and will face charges of conspiracy, attempted murder, and murder.

During the arrest, the police recovered five AK47 rifles, two K2 Assault rifles, 180 live ammunition, and four suspected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the suspect’s residence. Adejobi added that some of the seized rifles were taken from the three police officers who were killed during the attack.

The suspect confessed to joining the ruthless gang in 2021 after being released from the Olokuta Correctional Center, where he had been held since 2019 for his alleged involvement in armed robbery.

Adejobi revealed that the gang, specialized in kidnapping, had carried out four kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, including the attack on the clergyman’s convoy. Prior to the arrest, two members of the gang had been killed in separate encounters with the police.

According to the suspect’s confession, the gang had kidnapped a well-known oil dealer in Jetu, Auchi in 2022 and secured a ransom of approximately N70 million before releasing him. They also kidnapped a businessman along the Benin-Agbor expressway in 2022 and obtained a ransom of N20 million from the victim’s family.

Their most recent kidnapping attempt occurred after the failed attack on the Apostle, along the Owo-Ikare road, where they were engaged by the police escort accompanying their target and were forced to retreat.

Adejobi assured that efforts were being intensified to apprehend the remaining fugitive members of the gang.

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