Jigawa Speaker's Wife Kidnappers Dead - Police

KANO, June 08, (THEWILL) - The four suspected persons who attempted to kidnap the wife of the Speaker of Jigawa State House of Assembly died in custody on Monday, Police Commissioner Alhaji Abdullahi Fana, has said.

"The suspects arrested include Ali Zaria from Kaduna state, Usman Jumare Gumel from Jigawa State, Ferdinand Rufus of Adise Village Akuku Local government in Rivers State and Sunny Leke Uyo, also from Rivers state," he declared.

The suspects according to the police had abandoned their motorcycle and ran into the bush as a result, the police cordoned off the area and a gun battle ensued immediately, the police said they overpowered the hoodlums and they got the four of them arrested.

The police also said the hoodlums sustained serious injuries as a result of the gun duel.

Speaker of Jigawa State House of Assembly’s wife, Hajiya Halima Adamu Ahmad, was yesterday (Monday) kidnapped at gunpoint at their home, Sarawa village in Kafin Hausa Local Government, but was however rescued by good Samaritans from the locality.Confirming the incident to our correspondent in a telephone interview, yesterday, the Speaker, Alhaji Adamu Ahmad, said the kidnappers stormed his family house and took his wife away, but luck run out on them as the vehicle in which they were traveling got stuck in a muddy soil few kilometres away from the village.

He said sensing danger, the men of the under world after frantic effort to get out of the muddy soil decided to abandoned their vehicle and the kidnapped woman and had to run for their dear lives to escape from the villagers who were pursuing them.

He told reporters that although details of the incident is still with the police as the suspects were all apprehended and handed over to the police, however said his wife was rescued unhurt by the combined efforts of the people from the surrounding villagers.

The Speaker commended the people of the locality for daring the devil marauders who defied the sporadic gunshots from the kidnappers and over powered them, while he particularly commended their bravery.Asked about the identity of the suspects and whether it has political connotation, the Speaker said he could not particularly know their mission or from where they came from, all I know, he declared, are the kidnappers and with the support and help of the people from the area, were arrested and are now in police custody, I think the police are in better position to give the details, he said.An eye witness told our correspondent that the kidnappers three in number went to the village at about 11:00 in the morning and headed straight to the family house of the speaker and on arrival they started shooting on the air to scare every one around.

"Initially we were told that armed robbers took over the village and we were asked not to go in, which we obliged, but minutes later we were told that the people have gone and they snatched away the wife of the speaker of the state Assembly" said the eye witness.

According to him as they were going back they later saw three people on a motor bike holding guns, then we saw a group of people pursuing them, we then assisted in the pursuit in which later two out of the three kidnappers dropped from the motorcycle and took to their heels even as they were shooting sporadically, he continued.The eyewitness who does not want his name in print, said at a point, one of the suspects climbed a tree while shooting at the villagers, but they stayed far away from him so as not to be killed.After some time, he ran out of bullets and was caught, the second man was also pursued and over powered by the villagers and also arrested while the third suspects was arrested at a Kafin Hausa junction as he was trying to abandoned the motorcycle to run away. THEWILL recalled that this is the second time the state will witness a kidnap incidence. The first was sometime late last year when a father of a politician and businessman, Alhaji Danladi Auyo was taken in Auyo Local Government of the state.

Incidentally, Auyo and Kafin Hausa are neighbours to one another in the North East senatorial district of Hadejia.Police spokesman in the state, Abdul Jinjiri, (ASP) confirmed the incidence, however said details will be released today (Tuesday).