By Habeeb Ibrahim
Nigerian troops have detained Alhaji Nafi’u Yahaya, the former accountant of the Mutum Biyu Emirate Palace in Taraba State, over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of seven family members of Justice Sani Sulaiman, the Emir of Mutum Biyu.
The gruesome incident took place in February 2023, where kidnappers abducted the wives and children of the emir from his private residence in Jalingo, Taraba’s capital. Days later, the victims were tragically killed.
Yahaya’s arrest follows the detention of a suspected kidnapper in Abuja, who implicated the former accountant as a supplier of AK-47 rifles to criminal gangs.
In a video circulating on social media, Yahaya, aged 48, confessed to his involvement in various kidnapping activities and detailed his collaboration with Gambo Jimeta, another Mutum Biyu resident, who reportedly supplied the weapons used in these crimes. Yahaya admitted to owning an AK-47 rifle and renting it out for abductions.
Authorities believe Yahaya’s arrest will provide crucial leads in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and organized crime in the region. The case has drawn widespread attention, particularly given the high-profile nature of the victims and Yahaya’s position of trust within the emirate.
