Opeyemi Olamilekan
Abuja – A Nigerian Navy personnel, Abdul Rasheed Muhammad, has been arrested for the murder of Aminu, the son of a former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim (retd), police said on Wednesday.
Speaking while parading the suspect on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, said Muhammad killed Aminu and stole his car two weeks ago.
CP Igweh confirmed that the car had been recovered.
“About two weeks ago, Aminu Ibrahim, the son of Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim (retd), a former Chief of Naval Staff, was robbed and killed in the Maitama area of Abuja, and his Prado SUV was taken. I want to inform you that Abdul Rasheed Muhammad, a serving Nigerian Navy personnel, committed the murder. He has confessed to the crime, and we have recovered the Prado Jeep.” the FCT police boss said.
“He was seen driving in the SUV and during questioning, the suspect could not give a satisfactory explanation as to how he came about the vehicle. Police operatives took him into custody, and preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a Sea Man of the Nigerian Navy on guard duty at the residence of a Retired Naval officer, and the vehicle belongs to the late Aminu Ibrahim.
“While in custody, the suspect attempted to escape from Police custody but was promptly rearrested.”
While speaking with reporters, Mohammed said he is a seaman in the Navy deployed to the former Chief of Naval Staff’s residence.
“I work in the house. He (Aminu) wanted to come out at night. It was 11.30. He said he needed security.
“So I followed him with my gun. Along the way, he stopped. He was checking his ATM because I thought maybe he was going to buy something.
“Maybe I was going to escort him to a market or something like that. Then when I came out through the other door, I shot him to carry the car and go. I’m a guard. I’m serving in the Navy. I am a seaman. He did not do anything for me, I just killed him to take his car.”
During the parade, CP Igweh also said twin brothers, Obike David and Obike Stanley, who specialise in ATM card theft, were arrested.
He revealed that the suspects usually pretend to assist ATM users, swap their cards and withdraw their money.
“Police operatives from FCT Police command trailed and arrested twin brothers, Obike David and Obike Stanley, who specialize in ATM card theft.
“They execute their plans by claiming to assist unsuspecting persons who seem new to the operation of ATMs. While at it, they swap their ATM cards and proceed to withdraw money from the accounts of their victims. During interrogation, they freely confess to the crime and will be charged in court after the investigations,” CP Igweh added.
Also paraded were 94 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who were arrested following the death of two police officers on Sunday.
The FCT police boss identified the officers killed as ASP Innocent Agabi and Inspector Alex Odeh.
“Interrogations are ongoing and suspects will be charged to court after investigations,” CP Igweh added.