The Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has arrested Abubakar Halilu, 36, for plotting the kidnapping and murder of his cousin.

According to the police, Halilu lured his cousin, a businesswoman, to a kidnappers’ den in Kaduna State’s Galadimawa region, where he planned to kill her so that he would not have to pay her the sum of N1.4 million he owed her.

The victim’s car keys and other belongings in the vehicle were recovered in the suspect’s custody on the day they were both allegedly kidnapped and held prisoner in different parts of the bush, according to the police.

He allegedly made plans with the criminals to extort N100 million from the woman’s family and then murder her, but his luck ran out when the victim escaped from the camp where she was being held while her captors were out on an operation.

Halilu revealed his cousin bought some tricycles dubbed Keke Marwa worth N3.9 million and delivered them to him on hire purchase while being interrogated.

He claimed he had successfully paid N2.5 million but owed her N1.4 million, which he refused to pay, and that the day she was kidnapped, he told her to accompany him to a debtor’s house to reclaim money.

“I was supposed to have finished payment in December 2020. The total amount was N3.9 million. I have paid her N2.5 million, remaining a balance of N1.4 million

When she called to ask for the balance, I told her I was going to collect my money from someone. After discussing with the person I claimed owed me money, I lured her to accompany me to collect the money from the person but took her to bandits in Galadimawa.

Before I got there, I had discussed with the kidnappers. I knew them at the farm I was going to in Kubu area. I knew they were kidnappers. They were about five in number. In the camp, they have about 50 different gangs. They took me to their house. They have houses in the bush. They have huts where they keep kidnapped victims.

So, as we arrived the place, they kidnapped both of us and took us into the bush and separated us. My plan was for them to kill her." They were supposed to collect N100 million ransom and give me my share before they would kill her. I spent five days with them.

While at the camp, somebody came to take me away.  My cousin was able to escape from the initial gang but fell into another kidnap gang’s hands. I don’t know the people in whose hands she fell because I was taken to another camp by the gang that abducted me.
I was the one that drove her in her car to the place I told her I was going to collect money. After we were kidnapped, the kidnappers took the car away to a junction. I told them they should take the car to the road so that people will see it and it would look as if we were indeed kidnapped, but they said people would see it where I parked it.”
Halilu claimed, however, that his co-conspirators had him kidnapped and asked that his family bring money to pay for his release. He claimed he didn’t know how much they agreed on with his family, but that he was able to go on the day the ransom was due to be paid.
“I managed to escape from their camp on the day payment was supposed to be made. As I was escaping, I begged a farmer I met on the road to give me his phone to contact my people. I told the stranger that I was kidnapped.
I told my people on the phone not to bother to pay money to anybody. I told my people that I escaped when the kidnappers went out. I told them to come and meet me at Iredachi Junction. From there, one of my brothers that came to pick me handed me over to IRT office.” he said.
According to the police, the suspect obviously believed his preparations had worked and decided to take everything from the woman’s car, adding that he confessed to the crime during questioning.
He will be charged in court as soon as the inquiry is done, according to the police.
The post “36-year old man arrested for plotting kidnap and murder of his cousin" first appeared on Lindaikeejiblog.
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