DSS parades six suspects over Kaduna monarch’s killing
The Department of State Security Services in Kaduna State on Wednesday paraded six suspects in connection with the killing of the Agom Adara, Dr Maiwada Galadima.
The traditional ruler of Adara Chiefdom in Kaduna State, was abducted with his wife and driver last month by gunmen while on their way to the palace.
The hoodlums later released Galadima ’s wife and driver but killed the monarch and dumped his body at Katari village along Kaduna-Abuja road, after a ransom was allegedly paid for his release.
The development sparked violence in Kasuwan Magani, and later spread to other parts of the state.
Parading the suspects in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Director of the DSS in the state, Mahmud Ningi, said they were arrested at different locations in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abbas Balarabe, members of the State Security Council and the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Abdurahman, were present on the occasion.
Ningi said the suspects demanded a ransom of N100m from the monarch ’s family for his release.
He noted that after negotiations and subsequent collection of N6,850,000 from the family, the monarch was killed by his abductors.
Ningi added that though the service tracked the activities of the suspects during the negotiations but could not arrest them because of the safety of the traditional ruler.
He explained that immediately after the traditional ruler’s body was discovered, the service arrested the six suspects.
According to him, during preliminary investigations, the suspects made confessional statements of their involvement in the abduction.
He named one Adamu Sani (36) as the mastermind of the operation. The DSS chief said he was arrested on October 31 along Shanono road, Rigasa, Igabi.
The director named other suspects as Adamu Saidu (25), Adamu Isya (20), Yusuf Bello (32), Dahiru Muhammad Bello (28) and Mohammed Aminu.
He said Aminu led DSS operatives to his accomplices in Jos, Plateau State, where eight guns were recovered.
Ningi said the suspects would be handed over to the Plateau State Police Command for further investigations.
“Recall that on October 19, at about 1730 hours, near Idon, village, Kajuru Local Government Area, armed hoodlums blocked the road and were robbing commuters of their valuables.
“Unfortunately, during the operation, a convoy of the late Agom Adara, Maiwada Galadima, ran into the hoodlums, who subsequently abducted the monarch, his wife, Victoria and driver, Timothy Katari.
“The hoodlums also killed the monarch ’s police orderly, Sergeant Clement, and one palace guard, Amos Zamani. However, the Wakilin Agom Adara, Stephen Garba, who was also abducted, was immediately released.”
Meanwhile, the state government said it was happy with the arrest of the suspected killers of the monarch.
The state government in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said, “what must swiftly follow is the conclusion of the investigation and the diligent prosecution of the arrested suspects.”
(PUNCH)
