Kaduna State Police Command has debunked the rumoured release of suspected bandits earlier arrested for their alleged involvement in the burning of the rectory of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church Fadan Kamanton in the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, which led to the death of Na’aman Danladi, a Catholic Priest.
The Police Command had on the 23rd March, 2024 announced arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper, and one Yakubu Saidu, also known as Ismail who allegedly masterminded the Fadan Kamanton arson and homicide.
Meanwhile, a statement by one Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, BoT Chairman PVC-NAIJA and Initiator, Concerned Nigerians for Security, Unity and Sovereignty, had gone viral on social media, where he raised the alarm that, the arrested suspects have been released and that they are back to the Southern Kaduna community.
Akinyemi, claimed that, the return of the suspects to Ikulu land, has sent fears down the spines of the community people while the families of the suspected criminals were celebrating their release.
Akinyemi said: “These same criminals are known to be responsible for why Southern Kaduna, particularly Ikulu land, has become a theatre of death; a cluster for kidnappers, and a harmful colony to both its people and would-be investors.
“It was the operations of these murderers, and later, their acolytes, that led to the cold-blooded murder of the likes of the former Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr. Yakubu Sankey, Ardo Saleh Umar that was slaughtered like ram in view of his commitments to Peace, and a retired Airforce Officer, Master Warrant Officer Hamza Musa, among tens of people that they sent to their early graves.
“Some of them were infact found with dangerous ammunition such as the AK-47 they freely use against innocent farmers in broad day light. This is not to mention their report card in the kidnap of especially vulnerable women and children that they often keep in their custody for weeks or months depending on when ransom is paid.
“And like an oxymoron of sorts, their coming back is marked by both celebration and mourning. Celebration by families and friends, and mourning by the rest of society. In fact, the last few days, particularly in Ikulu land, have seen some impromptu migrations for fear of the obvious,” he said.
Akinyemi however called on the Commissioner of Police to explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged release of the arrested suspects and asked the government to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, when contacted on Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan told The Nation that, the suspects, including Yakubu Saidu and others arrested by the Police and the military in connection with Fadan Kamanton, have been remanded in the Correctional Center.
The PPRO said the Police had since concluded investigations on the arrested suspects and their cases files have been forwarded to the state’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), for legal advice.
According to ASP Hassan, “You know this is a criminal case, the suspects could not have been released on bail or for whatever reason by the Police.
“I can tell you that, we have concluded investigations on suspects. It was not only those that we arrested, the Army also arrested some on the same matter. We have investigated all of them and their case files have been forwarded to the DPP for legal advice,” he said.
When asked of the suspects whereabout, the PPRO who asked our Correspondent o give him some time on the enquiry, later called back to confirm that, the suspects have been remanded in the Correctional Center. The Nation.