Police Apprehend Abuja Train Attack Mastermind, Recover 48 Rifles
The Nigeria Police announced the arrest of Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Mandi, the alleged mastermind behind the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna route in March 2022, resulting in fatalities and abductions.
Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in Kaduna, revealed that Mandi was previously involved in the abduction of Greenfield University students in 2021. Additionally, 48 AK-47 rifles were confiscated during his arrest, with ongoing efforts to uncover his sponsors and weapons supplier.
Adejobi stated, “On January 12th, 2024, police operatives from the anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State CID, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended Ibrahim Abdullahi, aka Mandi, at the Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover near Rido Junction.
“The suspect admitted to leading a kidnapping gang operating on the Kaduna-Abuja highway, alongside criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji. He was involved in various kidnappings, including the Green Field University incident and most abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”
Moreover, the police spokesperson reported the arrest of 81 armed robbery suspects, 40 kidnap suspects, 73 murder/homicide suspects, 36 rape suspects, 22 cult-related crime suspects, and 28 individuals engaged in other criminal activities since January, mainly focusing on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
Adejobi highlighted the force's strategic initiative on the expressway, leading to recoveries such as 16 firearms, 226 ammunition, 28 stolen vehicles, 200 weapons, 600 bags of fertilizers, and a sum of N3,350,000 ransom money. The operations also led to the safe rescue of 158 kidnap victims.
He reiterated the Nigeria Police Force's commitment under Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun to upholding the rule of law, ensuring citizen safety, and combating criminality in the nation.
The PUNCH reported a terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna AK9 train on March 28, resulting in fatalities and abductions. The attack involved explosives planted along the rail track, causing the train to derail and leading to nine fatalities, including those from gunshot wounds, out of 362 validated passengers.
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