Mastermind of General’s murder nabbed in Kano

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested one Hashiru Baku, the mastermind behind the murder of the late Brigadier General Harold Udokwere.

Udokwere, who was the national chairman of the Retired Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, was murdered by armed robbers who invaded his residence on June 22, 2024, and took away his gun.

The police had arrested and paraded Ibrahim Rabiu, Nafiu Jamil, Aliyu Abdullahi and Mohammed Nuhu in connection with the crime on June 24.

Addressing journalists on Monday while parading arrested suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, said Baku was arrested in Kano while trying to run away from the country.

Igweh said the suspect was an escapee from the Kuje correctional centre.

He said, “ I did show you the four killers, kidnappers, and robbers who went and killed Brigadier General Uwe Harrod (retd.) Today, I will show you the organiser of the killing and the robbery.

“As well, we have recovered the General’s gun that was with him. We have recovered the wristwatch of the General and the wife’s jewelry which they stole from his house.

“The organiser is here and we have arrested him… He was in prison and during the Kuje correctional centre attack, he escaped.

“And instead of him to repent, he continued with more audacity. We arrested him in Kano where he was trying to exit the country.”

The CP said the police recovered 79 bottles of 100ml of codeine drugs in his residence saying that was what they took and they would continue to be high.

He also said the trio of  Ibrahim Yakubu, Uguwu Joseph, and  Mukhata Abdullahi were arrested for armed robbery.

He said, “They came to the FCT to rob. This red vehicle is their operational vehicle. So, as they organised to rob, they didn’t know we had the intelligence. So, we apprehended them where they were to rob. And we recovered these two English pistols and ammunition from them. “

He said eight suspects were arrested at the Kabusa Panteka spot and recovered a trailer containing used car parts, armoured cables, one pickup truck, and two buses with one containing burnt cables among others.

He also said two one-chance operators on the command watchlist had been arrested.

The suspects, according to him, are Saidi Mohammed and Miracle Felix.

Igweh said, “Saidi Mohammed and Miracle Felix, suspected armed robbery suspects who have been on the Command watch list were arrested.

“Suspects confessed to being a gang of one chance operatives who have been operating around Wuse II and Mpape axis for a while now. Suspects will be charged to court after investigation.