Mistaken Identity: Gunmen kidnap Anti-Kidnapping Police Officee Iàn Adamawa

A mobile policeman on anti-kidnapping duty in Adamawa State has been kidnapped.

Gunmen abducted the Mobile Policeman attached to Operation Farauta, a special task force working to tackle kidnapping in Adamawa State.

Sources said yesterday that the policeman, who is a resident of Mubi in Northern Adamawa, was deployed to Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area under the special unit which is mandated to tackle kidnapping said to have become rampant around Mayo-Belwa.

The abduction of the MOPOL, sources however said, may have been as a result of mistaken identity, as he is perceivably the wrong target.

A source said the gunmen who entered Mayo-Belwa around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday in a convoy of motorcycles were after a rich man called Idi Bage.

“The man whom the gunmen were looking for owned a mansion beside the Mayo-Belwa to Jalingo Highway.

“Luckily for him on that day, he did not dress elegantly but had changed into casual local wear.

“Unfortunately, the MOPOL, who wore the expensive-looking flowing gown in celebration of Christmas was mistaken for the rich man,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State, Suleiman Nguroje, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the abduction yesterday, saying the MOPOL dressed in his Christmas attire.



Nguroje told our correspondent: “The officer was swooped on and taken away while he was in a relaxed atmosphere with his friends.”

He assured, however, that the state police command was doing everything within its powers to rescue the officer unharmed and to apprehend and bring the abductors to justice.