By Paul Efiong Nigeria Police authorities on Saturday said, after days of painstaking and sustained surveillance, the operatives of the IGP Special Tactical Squad have arrested six (6) members of the vicious and notorious Hired Assassins gang responsible for the attack and attempted assassination/murder of the Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West in the Senate.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja, Force Spokesperson, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said the arrest was sequel to the directive of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, that those responsible must be arrested.
Prompt News Online recalls that Senator Dino Melaye, had raised the alarm on April 15, 2017, that unknown gunmen attempted to assassinate him at Iyala, Ijumu LGA in Kogi state.
According to CSP Moshood, those arrested are:
i. Taofiq Isah (Chairman Ijumu LGA Kogi state) who is alleged to be the mastermind of the executed attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.
He was alleged to have directed one Abdulmumini a.k.a Iron, now at large (who was said to be his Personal Assistant) and who in turn recruited other members of the vicious and notorious hired assassins gang mentioned above.
ii. Ade Obage ‘M’ 29 years: He voluntarily informed the Police that he has the knowledge and information about the attempted assassination/murder attack of Senator Dino Melaye after the attack was carried out.
ii. Ade Obage ‘M’ 29 years: He voluntarily informed the Police that he has the knowledge and information about the attempted assassination/murder attack of Senator Dino Melaye after the attack was carried out.
He further informed the investigators that he was contacted to join the gang by Abdullahi Eko a principal suspect now in Police custody.
iii. Abdullahi a.k.a Eko ‘M’ a native of Adavi town in Adavi LGA of Kogi State was arrested and he confessed to the crime and admitted to the criminal roles he played along with the other suspects in carrying out the attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.
He also mentioned other members of the gang who are still at large and that they used the Ambulance Hyundai bus and Five (5) AK 47 rifles for the operation. The Ambulance was recovered behind the Ijumu LGA Secretariat in Kogi State.
iv. Ahmed Ajayi ‘M’ 45 years (local security man at the residence of Taofiq Isah a principal suspect) a prohibited locally made single barrel shot gun was recovered from his possession.
v. Michael Bamidele ‘M’ 26 years (local security man at the residence of Taofiq Isah a principal suspect) a prohibited locally made single barrel shot gun was recovered from his possession.
vi. Ex- Sgt Ede James ‘M’ (Orderly to Chairman of Ijumu LGA Kogi State). He is the Police orderly to the principal suspect Taofiq Isah, the Chairman of Ijumu LGA in Kogi State whose phone was used for communication for the planning of the failed assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.
iv. Ahmed Ajayi ‘M’ 45 years (local security man at the residence of Taofiq Isah a principal suspect) a prohibited locally made single barrel shot gun was recovered from his possession.
v. Michael Bamidele ‘M’ 26 years (local security man at the residence of Taofiq Isah a principal suspect) a prohibited locally made single barrel shot gun was recovered from his possession.
vi. Ex- Sgt Ede James ‘M’ (Orderly to Chairman of Ijumu LGA Kogi State). He is the Police orderly to the principal suspect Taofiq Isah, the Chairman of Ijumu LGA in Kogi State whose phone was used for communication for the planning of the failed assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.
He was arrested with a serious criminal link to another principal suspect Abdullahi a.k.a Eko who is an active member of the gang.
vii. Abdulmumini a.k.a Iron (at large) He is the Personal Assistant (PA) to Chairman Ijumu LGA. Investigation so far revealed that he recruited members of the gang for the attack namely: Abdullahi a.k.a Eko arrested, Osama (SNU) at large, Lukman a.k.a General/Commander at large and China a.k.a Lie down flat at large and Adamu Aloha also at large. The suspects jointly entered the ambulance and left for Senator Dino Melaye residence at Ijumu LGA Kogi State.
Abdullahi Isah a.k.a Eko the third suspect further confessed to the crime and admitted to have been sent by the Chairman of Ijumu LGA in Kogi State Hon. Taofiq Isah to go and assassinate Senator Dino melaye.
vii. Abdulmumini a.k.a Iron (at large) He is the Personal Assistant (PA) to Chairman Ijumu LGA. Investigation so far revealed that he recruited members of the gang for the attack namely: Abdullahi a.k.a Eko arrested, Osama (SNU) at large, Lukman a.k.a General/Commander at large and China a.k.a Lie down flat at large and Adamu Aloha also at large. The suspects jointly entered the ambulance and left for Senator Dino Melaye residence at Ijumu LGA Kogi State.
Abdullahi Isah a.k.a Eko the third suspect further confessed to the crime and admitted to have been sent by the Chairman of Ijumu LGA in Kogi State Hon. Taofiq Isah to go and assassinate Senator Dino melaye.
Moshood said investigation was being intensified to arrest other suspects at large, adding “All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.”
