Police smash kidnap, robbery gang terrorising Kogi, Akure, Benue

ABUJA— Policemen from Force Headquarters have smashed a notorious robbery and kidnapping gang responsible for several kidnappings and robbery attacks on citizens of Kogi State as well as travellers plying federal highways in the state.

Leader of the gang, Zakari Yau, who is said to be greatly feared in the underworld, is believed to be the number one political thug in Kogi State, wanted for many of the politically-motivated killings not only in Kogi State, but in Benue State as well.

Vanguard gathered that Zakari Yau, who is 30 years old and has nine wives and 15 children, was nabbed at a location in an operation between Okene and Akure, Sunday morning.

Police sources told Vanguard that the Inspector-General of Police’s anti-kidnapping technical team, led by CSP Abba Kyari, who led the operation to arrest Zakari, recovered several AK-47 rifles, general purpose machine guns and rocket-propelled launchers from the gang.

Investigations by Vanguard showed that the notorious gang believed to be responsible for the spate of kidnappings and armed attacks on major highways in North Central states like Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Benue and along the Lokoja, Okene, Akure, Auchi roads, had some of his wives and children in Okene, while others were in Akure.

A senior police officer, who confirmed the arrest of the kingpin, told Vanguard that Yau was allegedly trained by General Ateke Tom, a former front-line leader of a Niger Delta militant group, which at a point held the nation to ransom.

The officer said Zakari’s gang members and hoodlums he has trained, are over 300.