Suspected Taraba kidnap kingpin Wadume arrested

Hamisu Wadume has been re-arrested by the police, weeks after he escaped during a gun battle between soldiers and a police team conveying him to Taraba state’s police headquarters for questioning.

The suspected Taraba kidnap kingpin was taken into custody at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday August 20. The police are expected to put out a statement later today.

This is coming after Daily Trust reported that the Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ibbi local government area of the state and seven other people, including an Islamic cleric were arrested by the Police in connection to the case.  Three officers – Inspector Mark Ediale, Sergeants Usman Danzumi, Dahiru Musa – and an IRT informant, Olajide Owolabi died as a result of gunshot injuries that came off an attack by the soldiers believed to be allegedly loyal to Wadume who has been linked to several kidnappings.

The Nigerian army in its response admitted that its men killed three police operatives and a civilian in Taraba, but said the men were mistaken for kidnappers.