>>The two suspects are members of a 15-man kidnap gang of Nigerian/Nigerien extraction

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO/North East Bureau:

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two members of a trans-national kidnap syndicate involved in the kidnap of an American citizen, Philippe Nathan Walton.

Walton was kidnapped on 28th October, 2020 at his farm in Masalata Village, Republic of Niger.

The suspects, Aliyu Abdullahi ‘m’ 21yrs a.k.a Mallam and Aliyu Umaru ‘m’ 23yrs a.k.a Kwatte Kusu, both from Sokoto State, were arrested on 25th November, 2020.

According to the statement by the spokesman of the Police, DCP Frank Mba: “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.

“Investigations by the Intelligence Response Team reveal that the gang was plotting other abductions to avenge the death of their cohorts – four Nigeriens and two Nigerians who died during the rescue operations.”

He said: “The Force is collaborating with its Nigerien counterpart in the investigations to apprehend other members of the transnational syndicate currently at large.”

He added that as part of efforts at tackling transnational crimes, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu 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.

He disclosed that the arrested suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.