Wadume: Finally, Notorious Kidnapper Goes To Court

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Six months after Bala Hamisu popular as Wadume, was arrested by the police, the notorious kidnapper has finally been charged to court.

Serious pressure has mounted on the Nigerian Police to charge the suspect to court to answer for his allege crimes.

The kidnap kingpin has now been slammed with 16 counts bordering on terrorism, murder, kidnapping and illegal arms.

One of the charges read, “That you, Alhaji Hamisu Bala, 33, aka Wadume; Capt Ahmed Tijjani Balarabe; ASP Aondona Iorbee; Insp Aliyu Dadje; Auwalu Bala; Uba Bala; Ahmad Suleiman; Bashir Waziri; Zubairu Abdullahi; Rayyanu Abdul and others now at large between February and April 2019 at Takum and Ibi, Taraba State, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert, conspired together to commit felony, to wit: acts of terrorism by attacking and kidnapping one Usman Garba, aka Mayo at his filling station in Takum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act 2013.”

The suspects, the police stated in the charge sheet,  allegedly demanded a N200m ransom and killed the victim despite receiving N106.3m.

The NPF said “DCP Abba Kyari, CSP Baba Khali, ASP Abdulrahman Mohammed, ASP Bawa James, Insps Habila Samuel and Ilarju Joseph are the investigating police officers in the investigation and will tender exhibits and documents,” the police stated.

Also listed as exhibits in the case were the written statements of the defendants, photographs of the victims, autopsy reports, six AK-47 rifles recovered from the gang, three empty shells, one live ammunition and six Volkswagen Sharon buses, and one (police) Toyota Hiace bus, among others.

The criminal charge dated February 3, 2020 was filed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough; Anthony Egwu, and Peter Amadi of the Legal/Prosecution Section, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

This is coming six months after Wadume was allegedly assisted to escape on August 6, 2019, by soldiers attached to Battalion 93, Takum, Taraba State, led by Balarabe.

Recall that Wadume was re-arrested on August 20, 2019 by men of the Inspector General’s Response Team led by Deputy Commisioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari in Kano.

He has earlier escaped on August 6 with the help of some soldiers attached to the 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State, led by one Capt Balarabe, when policemen were taking him to the state command in Jalingo, Taraba state’s capital.

Three police officers were killed by soldiers who claimed they mistook the policemen for kidnappers.

The soldiers were among those charged with Wadume on Wednesday.