Police have announced the arrest of the leader of Boko Haram insurgents, 39 year old Umar Abdulmalik, a native of Idoji in Okene, Kogi State, and seven members of his gang, responsible for the Nyanya and Kuje bombings of 2015.
They were also responsible for the killings of seven police officers in Galadimawa roundabout, Abuja, on July 2, 2018 and the killings of two other police officers around Abaji in June, 2018 as well as one police officer in Lugbe, Abuja on November 4, 2018.
A statement today, Friday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood said that Umar Abdulmalik and his gang were also responsible for the attack and jail break at Medium Security Prison, Minna, Niger State, on June 3, 2018 where 219 prisoners serving jail terms for capital offences and other crimes escaped from lawful custody.
“Two (2) Boko Haram members under Umar Abdulmalik in the Medium Security Prison, Minna, Niger State, were rescued by him during the jail break.”
The statement described Umar Abdulmalik as one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorists leader and an explosive expert for the insurgence group.”
The police gave the names of others who were arrested along with the leader as 29 year old Abubakar Bello Sidi, from Obehira, 31 year old Yusuf Abdulazeez, a.k.a Fine Boy, from Enyinare all in Okene local government of Kogi State; 24 year old Suleman Zakariya, a.k.a cause trouble from Idah local government also in Kogi State; 25 year old Lukman Abdulmalik, a.k.a Lampard from Idoji in Okene local government; 25 year old Haruna Lamidi from Ihima Okehi local government; 30 year old Abdullahi Mammanjimoh from Idogido in Okene local government and 34 year old Mustapha Adenoyi from Ihima in Okehi local government, all in Kogi State
The police listed the items recovered from the suspects are four Police AK47 rifles which they allegedly carted away after killing the Policemen; six magazines; 270 rounds of AK47 ammunition and two police walking talking radio, which they also allegedly carted away after killing the Policemen.
They were arrested, according to the statement yesterday, December 20 by the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by DCP Abba Kyari in a location at Ibafo, Lagos while receiving treatment from the bullet wound he sustained on November 26, at Bassa village, off Airport road, Abuja during exchange of gun fire with the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team when four of his gang members were arrested and three other suspects were subsequently arrested.
“Umar Abdulmalik and his gang confessed to be the mastermind and responsible for the Nyanya and Kuje bombings in Abuja in 2015, killings of seven Police Officer in Galadimawa roundabout on 2nd July, 2018 and the killings of two other Police Officers around Abaji in June, 2018 and one Police Officer in Lugbe, Abuja on 4th November, 2018.
“The Boko Haram terrorist gang during interrogation and investigation also confessed to several bank robberies in Edo and Ondo States, and other kidnappings, armed robberies and killings in different locations in Kogi and other contiguous States.”
The police said that investigation is being intensified to arrest other members of the Boko Haram cell under the control of Umar Abdulmalik and other suspects connected to the crimes the gang have committed.
“All the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to their various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes. They will all be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation.”
