The alleged notorious kidnapper at the centre of a probe by the Defence Headquarters Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, has been arrested by the Police in a hideout in Hotoro area of Kano.
Three police detectives were shot dead by soldiers in Taraba State, as they whisked away the notorious kidnapper. He was allegedly released by the soldiers and disappeared into thin air.
The Police flared up at the incident, forcing the Army to come out in defence of its men, with a slgirly different version of the altercation between its men and the Police that led soldiers to gun down the detectives. The Army version further infuriated the Police, leading President Muhammadu Buhari to order a probe.
A statement On Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba said the Inspector-General of Police, M. A. Adamu expressed confidence that the police will get details of Wadume’s activities.
The statement said: “The operatives of the Nigeria Police have re-arrested the notorious kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume.
“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, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM,mni 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.”
In a video of how he was re-arrested by the Police, Wadume told briefly how he was rescued and freed by soldiers from the slain Police detectives in Taraba. He spoke in Hausa.
Roughly translated, it means: “I am Hamisu Bala. The police came to Ibi and arrested me.
“They were taking away when soldiers went after them and opened fire and some policemen were killed. The soldiers took me to their place and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away. I have been hiding until they arrested me.”