Repentant terrorists on Tuesday night invaded a police station in Maiduguri in an attempt to set free their colleagues that were arrested earlier over alleged drug offences.

However, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, Kenneth Daso, who confirmed that there was an incident at the police station, said the assailants were repelled by officers on duty.

Daso said the security breach was heralded by an operation carried out by the police.

He said, “On the 30/04/24 at about 1745hrs in a joint operation raid at the Kasuwar Fara, following an intelligence report that some drug peddlers, smokers, repentant and Boko Haram insurgents are indulging in nefarious activities, eight persons were arrested including seven male and a female in that operation with 476grams of illicit substances.

Daso said the security breach was heralded by an operation carried out by the police.

He said, “On the 30/04/24 at about 1745hrs in a joint operation raid at the Kasuwar Fara, following an intelligence report that some drug peddlers, smokers, repentant and Boko Haram insurgents are indulging in nefarious activities, eight persons were arrested including seven male and a female in that operation with 476grams of illicit substances.

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested the masterminds of the kidnapping and murder of students of Greenfield University and the abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

One of the arrested suspects is a notorious terrorist leader Ibrahim Abdullahi popularly known as Mande, who masterminded and participated in the kidnapping and murder of students of Greenfield University and most of the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Parading the suspects at the Kaduna Police Command Headquarters on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi said Mande was arrested based on credible information at the Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction in Chikun Local Government Area.

He explained that the suspect has confessed to being a leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway and ranked among notorious bandits like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

The Force PRO further disclosed that police operatives also arrested another notorious kidnap gang leader who masterminded the September 2023 attack on the Saint Raphael Catholic Church at Fadan Kamantan where a seminarian and the church were burnt.

“Regrettably, the suspects had already set ablaze the priest’s residence before the arrival of the authorities. Despite the valiant efforts of operatives, one seminarian Stephen Naaman tragically lost his life in the inferno, and property worth millions of Naira, including a Honda vehicle and a motorcycle, were consumed by the fire.

“However, due to diligence and tireless pursuit of the issue by the police, on the 22nd of March, 2024 one Yakubu Saidu, the mastermind and leader of the notorious kidnapping gang, was apprehended and he confessed to his involvement in the heinous crime”.

Police operatives also arrested a suspect Shedrack John for allegedly aiding kidnappers by providing medical services to injured bandits in the forest as well as those other suspects Auwal Hassan, Auwal Ahmed, and Auwal Adamu.

The Force spokesman assured that the police leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun remained steadfast in its resolve to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety and security of all citizens, and combat criminal activities across the country.

“These recent achievements along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway underscore the zeal of the Force in fulfilling our mandate of protecting lives and property. This special intervention and operation would be replicated in other major expressways and cities across the country through the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the IGP,” he said.

“We will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, employ innovative strategies, and harness the full force of the law to root out criminal elements and create a conducive environment for peaceful coexistence and socio-economic development.

“As we forge ahead, the Nigeria Police Force extends its gratitude to members of the public for their continued support and cooperation. Together, we will build safer communities, foster trust between the police and citizens, and strive towards a Nigeria where all individuals can live without fear of crime or violence.”

Former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Michael Aondoakaa, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made an error in the handling of the investigation involving ex-Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.

Aondoakaa said EFCC committed a fundamental error by including Bello in a charge that predated his tenure as governor.

He said the former governor leveraged on the error by the EFCC to seek the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

Speaking with Arise Television, the former AGF said: ”I think the controversy was unnecessary in case of Yahaya Bello. Because some of the details that are coming up are unnecessary.

”There was an ongoing case with Yahaya Bello to enforce his fundamental human rights. It was based on one particular case, which the EFCC amended a charge and included him. That is charge number 5502022, pending before the federal high court in Abuja.

”At the accusation in that charge, I think there was an error by EFCC. The error was that he was being roped there because he was governor, but they referred 2015. In 2015, the man said, I was not even a governor. I was a governor in 2016.

”That was a premise he went to enforce his fundamental human rights before a state high court, which the state high court and the federal high court have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce fundamental human rights.

”When he enforced the fundamental human right, there was an interlocutory order restraining the EFCC from arresting him pending the hearing of the case.”