The suspected notorious kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume has been re-arrested by the Nigerian police in Kano State.
A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba on Tuesday said Wadume was re-arrested in the late hours of Monday in his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State.
The Police had been on the massive manhunt for Wadume since 6th August, 2019 following the unfortunate incident in Ibi, Taraba State which resulted in the brutal murder of three police officers and one civilian, and injury to five others by the Nigerian Army.
The suspect, who was appropriately restrained at the time of the incident, was subsequently released by his “rescuers” after they had destroyed the restraining handcuffs.
However, Mba said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu, while commending the Police operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts, had expressed his profound gratitude to all Nigerians for their unparalleled show of love and empathy to the Force and the families of the officers and patriotic civilians who paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland.
“It is his belief that the re-arrest of the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, will no doubt, help in bringing answers to the numerous but hitherto unanswered questions touching on the incident and the larger criminal enterprise of the suspect,” he said.
However, during interrogation, Wadume confessed in a video obtained by the Nation that soldiers assisted him to escape.
In the 41-second video, Wadume, who spoke in Hausa, said : “I am Hamisu Bala also known as Wadume. The police came to Ibi and arrested me.
“After arresting me, they were taking away when soldiers went after them and opened fire and some policemen were killed.
“From there the soldiers took me to their headquarters and cut off the handcuffs on my hands and I ran away. Since I ran away, I have been hiding until now that the police arrested me.”