The suspects where said to be specialized in killing people and removing their vital organs.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Police Public Relations Officer, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, stated this to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The PPRO identified the suspects as: Yakubu Hamidu (gang leader), Abdullahi Ibrahim, Shaibu Adamu Ubile Attah,Julius Hassan, Shehu Haliru, Abdullahi Tijjani, Sale Adama, Musa Abdullahi, Yakubu Yahaya, Adama Shagari, Isaac Alfa, Baba Isah, Idoko Benjamin, Akwu Audu and Abdullahi Zakari.
He also added that one pump action rifle, two locally fabricated single barrel guns and three short axes were recovered from the suspects.
“One of the suspects, Ubile Attah, masterminded the kidnap and murder of a Police Inspector, Abdul Alfa on Nov. 28, 2017 and snatched his rifle.
“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that this gang from information and intelligence gathered from public spirited individuals and other residents, were responsible for kidnapping, gruesome murder, and ritual killings of innocent people in Kogi State, travellers passing through Kogi State and strangers coming into towns in the area were mostly victims.
“Yakubu Hamidu, gang leader (Vigilante Commander of Ankpa), a native of Ankpa and the vigilante leader in the community along with his vigilante guards are the hit-men responsible for the killings of several victims and removing their organs mostly male and female organs including other body parts such as the head, kidney, and other vital body organs and sell them to personalities within and outside the State for rituals,” Moshood said.
However, Moshood alleged that Hamidu and his members now in custody confessed to the crime and admitted that they were sponsored and working for Abdulahi Ibrahim Ali a.k.a (Halims) and Shaibu Adamu a.k.a AYE-MARINA.
“The suspects further confessed to the killings and removal of body parts of the following victims James M (other names yet to be known), Christopher (other names yet to be known), Mohammed (other names yet to be known), Small Case (Real name unknwon) and Omu (other names yet to be known).
“Investigation is being concluded and efforts intensified to arrest other suspects that included prominent personalities linked to the crime but still at large.
“They will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.”
