Nigerian troops nab female kidnapper picking ransom in Taraba

In Taraba State, Nigerian Army troops from 93 Battalion under 6 Bridget have captured a suspected female kidnapper who was attempting to demand a ransom.

Lieutenant Oni Olubodunde, a Bridget spokesman, said that in addition, the troops captured a well-known gunrunner who supplied weapons and ammunition to criminals in Taraba State and other regions of the nation.

It has come to light that the female suspect is the second-in-command of the late Hana Terwase and is married to a well-known criminal.

According to the spokesperson, the forces were investigating the 45-year-old arms dealer Joshua Dutse Idah's operations based on reliable intelligence.

He further explained, “the troops had trailed the suspect, leading to his arrest in Ibbi town of Ibbi Local Government Area of the state while he was driving to Kaduna State in a blue Volkswagen Sharon vehicle with registration number Rivers SKN-390AA.”

Olubodunde continued, saying that during questioning, Dutse admitted that he was travelling to Katsina State with AK-47 rifles, for which he had been paid N300,000 in part. Troops also found one PK machine gun, 399 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, and three AK-47 rifle magazines after conducting a thorough search of the vehicle.

Olubodunde revealed that Janet Igohia, a 31-year-old suspected kidnapper, was also taken into custody after receiving N1.5 million as ransom for the kidnapping of a victim in the Chanchangi area of Takum Local Government Area.

He clarified that Gohia had disclosed that she was wed to Voryor Gata, a notorious criminal who had served as the late Gana Terwase's second-in-command.

He said that she was previously married to well-known criminals like the late Terkibi Gemaga, also known as Mopol, a renowned kidnapper who was slain by troops five years ago, and that she is currently married to the head of a violent extremist group in southern Taraba.