Security forces attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in Kano State yesterday afternoon arrested one of the suspected masterminds of the attack on the convoy of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, last month.
The man, simply identified as Suleiman and also known as Babawo, was picked at his residence located in Chiranchi quarters behind the old campus of Bayero University Kano, security sources disclosed. Security officials revealed that the suspect was one of the brains behind the unsuccessful plot to assassinate the monarch. He was also fingered as the person commanding several insurgents attack in the city recently.
Four guns, over 1000 rounds of ammunition, handsets and cash were recovered in the building during the arrest. The man, who is an indigene of Jigawa State, is married to four wives and has eight children, added the official.
But another source said the suspect was arrested at Hadejia Road on his way into the state, from where he led security men to his house. It was also gathered that the suspect is a retired police corporal and has provided information that led to the arrest of two other suspects at different parts of the state, including a university undergraduate.
Meanwhile, the JTF yesterday demolished the house of the suspect. It was not clear whether his family were living there, but eyewitnesses said the house was pulled down by bulldozers escorted by soldiers.
The motorcade of the Emir of Kano was attacked on January 19, by many gunmen, after leaving the venue of Qur’anic graduation ceremony at Masallacin Murtala in Gandu quarters.
Six persons were killed by the assailants, while over a dozen others, including the emir’s two sons, sustained injuries.
Bayero and the two princes were flown to the United Kingdom for medical attention a day after the incident. Security agents had on Monday, January 21, 2013 arrested a man who they claimed was a principal suspect in the attack and who they said had been providing them with useful information about others involved in the attack, information which led to the arrest of three others.
However, all attempts to get the comments of the JTF over the arrest was not successful.