The family of former Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye has been thrown into mourning following the news of their father’s death in the hands of assailants who had kidnapped him last year.
The eight suspects were nabbed by the Inspector-General of Police Response Team (IRT).
The Street Journal reported that the nonagenarian was kidnapped from his residence in Mushere village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on June 19, 2020.
In the last 12 months, nothing was heard about him and the family, having said to have paid the ransom demanded by the assailants, kept high hopes that Pa Dariye will be released.
The police spokesperson in the state, Ubah Gabriel, said the suspects were arrested when officers in a joint operation with their colleagues from the police headquarters in Abuja raided the kidnappers’ hideout.
The police said the 26-member criminal gang to which the suspects allegedly belong had been carrying out armed robbery and kidnapping in Bokkos LGA.
“The eight members of the criminal gang arrested include Jethron Ngusen, 57 years, from Horop village, who is the mastermind; Sunday Ibrahim, 35 years, from Horop village; Titus Ezikiel, 33 years, from Horop; Ya’u Saidu aka Ya’u Kaban, 40 years, from Kaban village and Dauda Isah, 38 years, from Horop village.
“Others are Mangut Shumuwar, 30 years, from Horop village; Henry Amos, 35 years, from Horop village; all in Mushere district of Bokkos LGA of the state,” the police said.
A source who spoke to this newspaper said six of the arrested suspects are from Pa Dariye’s village, adding that they killed him because he was able to recognize them.
Prior to his abduction in 2020, the deceased was abducted in 2015 and was released after a ransom was paid.