>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The gunmen, who were arrested at the Minna, Niger State residence of Mohammed Sani Musa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Niger East, have told the police that they were sent to kidnap the lawmaker.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement, on Monday.
Abiodun, who had earlier told reporters that the motive of the suspects was unknown and that investigation was ongoing, said in their fresh confessional statement, the suspects stated that they were hinted that senator was travelling to Niger State for the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the Emir of Kagara by one Sherrif, now at large.
“Additional facts emerged in the course of investigation, as one of the suspects confessed further that the hoodlums led by the said Sherrif, presently at large targeted the Senator to his home in Minna.
“The hoodlums suspected that he could be at home, having attended a coronation ceremony at Kagara on the same date and to possibly kidnap him,” he said.
Abiodun said the hoodlums ransacked the residence under the pretext of the purported search execution, noting that effort was on to apprehend other members of the gang.
Recall that gunmen suspected to be assassins invaded the Minna residence of the Senator on Saturday night.