Edo Police Arrest Cleric Accused of Making ‘Protective Charms’ for Kidnap Gangs

Edo State police spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem

Edo Police Arrest Cleric Accused of Making ‘Protective Charms’ for Kidnap Gangs

Edo Police Command parades 52-year-old cleric alongside four kidnap suspects, as investigation reveals ties to cross-state criminal operations.

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 52-year-old Islamic teacher, Jubril Ibrahim, for allegedly preparing charms and spiritual protections for a kidnapping syndicate operating across the Edo North Senatorial District and beyond. Ibrahim was paraded on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Benin City, alongside four suspected kidnappers and six other suspects arrested for various crimes, including child theft and vehicle theft. Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daor, confirmed that the suspected kidnappers were apprehended in Niger State following an intelligence-led operation by police operatives. He said the syndicate had been responsible for a series of abductions in communities including Auchi, Jattu, and Okpella, where they targeted wealthy residents and demanded ransom payments.

While being paraded, Ibrahim strongly denied preparing charms for the kidnappers. Speaking through a Hausa interpreter, he explained that he is a Qur’anic teacher who gathers Almajiri students to teach Islamic scripture. He said that Ahmadu Suleiman’s mother came to him and asked him to pray for her son because he travels a lot, so he has been praying for his safe trip to and from, and that is what he has been doing. However, when asked whether he was aware that Suleiman possessed an AK-47 rifle, Ibrahim admitted he knew the suspect carried a gun, but maintained that he was not involved in any criminal activity.

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Ahmadu Suleiman, 24, one of the principal suspects, confessed to participating in a kidnapping operation in Auchi, giving a chilling account of how the gang operated. Speaking through an interpreter, Suleiman explained that when they get to the community, they look for a beautiful house and shoot into the air, and in the process of people scampering for their lives, they run out, and the gang holds them and takes them to the bush and demands money. He admitted to receiving ₦1 million from the Auchi operation, though he claimed that was the only kidnapping he participated in within that area. He also revealed that he had worked with different kidnapping syndicates across Nigeria and always returned to his base in Niger State after operations. When asked whether the group used informants within communities, Suleiman said they did not, adding that they instead identified targets by looking for expensive cars and large buildings.

In addition to the kidnapping suspects, police paraded a 21-year-old suspect allegedly involved in the theft of a baby at Ring Road, Benin City. A stolen vehicle was also recovered by the command during the operations. Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were made possible through actionable intelligence gathered by police operatives. She urged members of the public to continue supporting law enforcement by providing credible information that can help prevent crime and bring criminals to justice. Commissioner Daor added that all suspects would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.