By Baron Ike
The police on Tuesday gave a graphic account of how Hamisu Bala Wadume, alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, was smoked out from a village in Kano where he was hiding since August 6 he was unconditionally released by some soldiers after killing three policemen escorting him to Jalingo, the Taraba State police command.
A statement by Force spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Frank Mba, who confirmed arrest of the alleged notorious kidnapper, Wadume was captured in his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State.
The statement said: “The operatives of the Nigeria Police have re-arrested the notorious kidnap kingpin. He was re-arrested in the late hours of yesterday, 19th August, 2019 in his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State.
“It would be recalled that the Police had been on the massive manhunt for the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume since 6th August, 2019 following the unfortunate incident in Ibi, Taraba State which resulted in the brutal murder of three (3) Police Officers and two (2) civilians, and injury to five (5) others.
“The suspect, who was appropriately restrained at the time of the incident, was subsequently released by his “rescuers” after they had destroyed the restraining handcuffs.
“Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, M.A Adamu, while commending the Police operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts, has expressed his profound gratitude to all Nigerians for their unparalleled show of love and empathy to the Force and the families of the officers and patriotic civilians who paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland.
“It is his belief that the re-arrest of the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, will no doubt, help in bringing answers to the numerous but hitherto unanswered questions touching on the incident and the larger criminal enterprise of the suspect.”