A suspected kidnap kingpin, Mohammed Gidado, attempted suicide to evade arrest by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Taraba State.
The suspect, who has been on the watch list of security agencies in Taraba, was arrested on March 28, in the Jebjeb community of Karim Lamido LGA, after intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance, and smart operation of officers of the state command.
Parading the suspect before journalists on Friday, April 9 in Jalingo, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Muhammed Waksha disclosed that Gidado attempted to commit suicide by slitting his throat but was quickly attended to and his life saved.
The Commandant said the suspect alongside his gang members creates roadblocks along the borders of Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe states where they intercept travelers and kidnap them.
“We arrested Mohammed Gidado on the 28th of March 2021 in Jebjeb community of Karim Lamido local government area of Taraba state, it is a border community with Plateau State,” Waksha said.
“This is the area they have been causing mayhem to transporters and residents through robbery, kidnapping, and cattle rustling. He has been on our wanted lists for so long, so, when we got him, we drove all through the night and day.
“We arrived at the state command office at about 9:00 am and while trying to enter the suspect used a sharp metal he saw in the vehicle to slash his throat and luckily we rushed him to the hospital and his life was saved.”
Waksha said investigation to unravel more of the suspects is still on, adding that no culprit will escape.
Speaking to journalists, the suspect, Gidado blamed the devil for luring him to engage in such activities.
“We kidnap and rob people of their belongings in a border community between plateau and Taraba states more often. We are many and I heard some of our gang members were killed in a gun duel with security agencies,” the suspect said.
“My intention to commit suicide was to avoid been further interrogated. The last set of people we kidnapped, we made a total of five hundred thousand naira from them.”