We are responsible for the kidnap of Kaduna Pastors, others – Fulani herdsmen confess

A group of suspected Fulani Herdsmen have been arrested in connection with the kidnap of some pastors in Kaduna state.

Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase’s Special Intelligence Response Team, SIRT, reportedly rounded up the suspects: Kashimu Shehu, aka Baliago, the gang Leader; Aliyu Mato Haruna, aka, Yellow; Muhammedu Mamman; Hassan Bello; Bala Mohammed and Ishiaku Kabiru, from their hideouts in Kaduna and Zaria states.

The suspects were alleged to be behind the March 21, 2016, abduction of the President and Vice President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, Rev Emmanuel Dziggan and Rev Illiya Anthony respectively and another pastor of the church, Rev Yakubu Dzarmaý, at Dutse village in Kaduna State.

The gang was also said to have kidnapped a staff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and many others, Vanguard reports.

Confessing to the crime, members of the gang reportedly said after picking their victims, they would make them trek for hours in a deep forest off the Abuja-Kaduna Road, before arriving their camp close to Tapher Village Kaduna State.

The alleged gang leader, 27-year-old Kashimu Shehu, aka Baliago, in his confession, denied being the leader.

According to him, “I am Kasimu Shehu, a Fulani by tribe and a native of Mai-Yahsi Village in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government Area of Kaduna State. I attended an Alamajiri School at Peleke-Tasher Tsamya Village, Zaria, Kaduna State. I am married to two wives and I am blessed with two children.

“I have over 40 cows at Audu Jangwan Village along the Abuja- kaduna Road. I am not part of the kidnap gang as my friends; Aliyu Haruna, and Hassan Bello alleged. I am not the leader of any kidnap gang. I was not involved in the kidnap of the pastors or a staff of the presidency as alleged. I don’t have an Ak47 rifle as alleged but I have a locally made gun which I bought for N600, 000 from one late old man who lived in Kauran Wali-Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“I am using the gun to protect my cows though I don’t have a license for the gun. The locally made gun is with one Mathew for repair at Tunga Sabo Village, Rigina, Kaduna State,” Shehu noted.

On his part, Aliyu Haruna said, “I am 30 years old and I am Fulani by tribe. I was born in Kastina State but I grew up in Sabo Gayan area of Kaduna State. I attended Alamajiri school at Gidan Abdulmumuni, Sabo Gayan Village. I am a farmer, I rear cattle and I am also a commercial motorcycle operator. I am married and we are blessed with three children. I have about 10 cows.

“On the 24th of April 2016, I was arrested by some policemen from Abuja at a naming ceremony at Gidan Kasimu, in Mai Yahsi Village, in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government area of Kaduna State. The naming ceremony was organized by one of our gang leaders, Kasimu Shehu, aka Babajo. I joined the gang of kidnappers some time in April 2016, and we are six members in that gang.

“The other members are Shehu, Musa, Yakil, Aliu and Bashiru. We have one Ak 47 rifle that is always in the possession of our gang leader Kasimu Shehu,” he revealed.

“Some time in April, Shehu called me and said I should bring food for them, that they had kidnapped one man Auden in Jangwan village off Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

“I saw Shehu with AK 47 rifle in the bush when I went to deliver the food to him. I used my motorcycle to deliver the food to them inside the bush. Shehu promised to pay me N200, 000 once the ransom has been paid, but I was given just N1000 when I delivered the food. I know I have committed a crime,” he added.

Recall that Arase, who was said to have been miffed by the development in Kaduna State, had ordered the operatives of his elite SIRT, to proceed to the State to track down the hoodlums and put an end to their activities.

It was gathered that the operatives, on arriving the state gathered several intelligence from the locals for two weeks, before swooping on the suspects.