Kidnappers of US Citizen Rescued By US forces Has Been Arrested By Nigerian Police

Two members of the gang involved in the kidnap of an American citizen who was rescued by the US force have been found an arrested by the Nigerian Police Force.

Recall that the  American Citizen, Philippe Nathan Walton, on 28th October, 2020 was kidnapped at his farm in Masalata Village, Republic of Niger. After which he was taken hostage by armed men in Niger Republic and held in the northern part of Nigeria

The 27 year old was later reached by the US SWAT Team on Saturday, October  31st 2020.

Force spokesperson DSP Frank Mba, who confirmed the latest development in a statement on Thursday, December 10, said the suspects, Aliyu Abdullahi, 21, a.k.a Mallam and Aliyu Umaru, 23, a.k.a Kwatte Kusu, both from Sokoto State, were arrested on 25th November, 2020.

“The two suspects – members of a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/Nigerien extraction, led by Barte Dan Alhaji and Dan Buda were arrested following a special intelligence-led operation aimed at arresting the criminal gang, disrupting and halting other criminal activities by them,” the statement says.

Investigations by the Intelligence Response Team revealed that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – 4 Nigerians and 2 Nigerians who died during the rescue operations.

Mba said the Force is collaborating with its Nigerian counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large.

“Meanwhile, as part of efforts at tackling transnational crimes, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni is working in concert with other members of the West African Police Chiefs Organization (WAPCO) to deepen intelligence sharing amongst security agencies in the ECOWAS sub-region and strengthen security along the international borders of member States. The suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.“