The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a notorious kidnap and armed robbery kingpin, Mohammed Bammi, popularly known as Zomo, along with five other suspected members of kidnapping syndicates in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Zomo was apprehended during a clearance operation at Doka forest in Doma Local Government Area.
Nansel explained that the suspect, who had escaped police arrest last month when some of his gang members were captured, attempted to attack officers with a knife before he was subdued.
Following his arrest, the police said the suspect led detectives to the gang’s hideout in Alagye village, where arms, ammunition, and security uniforms were recovered.
Items seized included a pump-action rifle, a locally made AK-47 rifle with magazine, two live rounds, five cartridges, a knife, a rope, two mobile phones, and a pair of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uniforms.
In a separate sting operation, operatives stormed Gidan Taku village in Awe Local Government Area and arrested five suspected members of a 10-man kidnap gang.
The suspects — Michael Ato, Richard Ato, Alom Bernard, Hangior Ato, and Jacob Hunde, also known as Okocha — were linked to the abduction of a woman, Blessing John. Police recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and one live round from the suspects.
Investigations further revealed that the same gang abducted the victim’s husband, John Ada Kuje, in April 2024, before collecting ransom and releasing him.
Nansel said all suspects had been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, commended the operatives for the breakthrough and urged them to sustain the pressure on criminal gangs until the state is rid of kidnappers and armed robbers.