How witness exposed Jethro Ngusen, 6 others in Pa Dariye’s kidnap, gruesome murder
Story from Yakubu VENTIM, Jos
The intrigued of political betrayal, family conflict was unmasked in the continuous trial of killers linked to one Chief Jethro Ngusen, who masterminded the kidnapping of late Dariye Defwan on the 17th of June 2020 and his remains recovered in a shallow grave on the Hok hill by a group of community volunteers.
The suspect was a close neighbour and political gladiator of former Governor Joshua Dariye, whom he had much trust for.
Joshua Dariye was the former governor of Plateau state and later became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for misappropriation of public funds as he served a jail term in Kuje correctional centre.
Inspector Joseph Olarju, who was the witness-in-chief while testifying told the court that Abubakar Mohammed alias Buba in his confession statements said he operates under a syndicate and admitted to several kidnapping activities at Agboma Agara in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State and in Plateau State.
Buba’s confession reveals how his gang were hired and paid by one Jethro to kidnap late Pa Dariye, and even when ransom of 10 million naira was paid, they went ahead and killed the 93-year-old in Hok hill, a few kilometres from Mushere village.
Joseph Olarju is the police who investigated the case, he identified and recognised all the defendants inside the dock during court sittings, he explained how he got to know all the defendants through Buba confessions about their involvements in kidnapping, armed robbery and homicides.
READ ALSO: Why we killed Dariye’s father after collecting N10 million ransom – Jethro Ngusen (Video)
After the matter was officially reported to the headquarters in Abuja, the case was assigned to Olarju and his team members in October 2020.
He said Mustapha Mohammad belonged to a syndicate that specialises in kidnapping and is a suspect in a case of one first-class chief who was kidnapped in a village in Kachia, by the name Agboma Agara on the 19th Oct. 2018.
He explained that during the investigation, Mustapha was arrested in connection with the case where he confessed to his participation in so many armed robberies, kidnappings, homicides predominantly in Kaduna and its environs.
During the investigation, he mentioned the names of other gang members as Buba Dauda, Nasiru Kachalla who are all connected to the Agboma Agara case. While in custody, Mustapha gave them the address of Buba in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State, as authorities push harder with the investigation and intelligence gathering.
Olarju further disclosed that on the 19th of Feb. 2021, the team embarked on a search for Buba as they perfected their investigation activities, with his team members, Insp. Joseph Olarju, Insp. Musa Jafaru, Insp. Bulama Mohammed, Insp. Benard Adejo, Insp. Gift Inokela and Sgt. Samuel Maiyaki.
He said “We came to Jos on the 4th of April, 2021 together with the suspect Mustapha Mohammad, we already had a plan on how to carry out the investigation by reporting to the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State command, who endorsed the journey and referred us to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, and communicated to all the Divisional Police officers across the 17 LGAs to assist us with the investigation where necessary. From there we proceeded to Bokkos LGA, the DPO office had booked for our arrival, so in Bokkos, we met with the DPO, DSP Thomas Shehu who attached us with two of his surveillance team.
Insp. Ayuba Garba, Sgt. John Garba together with the surveillance team asked residents about Alias Buba as the suspect Mustapha described to people that he is slim, tall and fair in complexion.
The description given helped and they were directed to search for Alias Buba in Daho, Maituna, Mangar and Hurtish part of Bokkos LGA.
“Finally, we got Buba arrested on the 24th June 2021 at Mangar village, while we arrived the village, Buba on sighting Mustapha knew that something is wrong and tried to escape, but we got him and immediately moved back to Bokkos Division together with my team members with the surveillance team and the two suspects which we took to the force headquarters.
Insp. Olarju stated that he took the suspect to the investigation room together with some of his team members and his superior officers ASP Mohammad Ahmadu, ASP Usman Mohammad, they questioned Buba using the English language, but he told them he prefer Hausa. Abubakar Mohammad confessed to his series of participation in armed robbery, kidnappings, culpable homicide and admitted that he participated in the killing of Agboma Agara, including the kidnapped and brutal murder of Pa Dariye in Rop village of Mushere district in Bokkos LGA of Plateau state.
During the cause of his investigation, Abubakar Mohammed, alias Buba mentioned his gang members with whom they carry out the kidnapping of Pa Dariye. he then mention one Yau Saidu in Kadan Mushere, as an accomplice.
He said, ”And our investigation continues where we left our office together with my team members and the suspect, Abubakar Mohammed on the 30th June 2021. We came down to Bokkos we slept there on 1st September 2021 we booked our arrival at the divisional headquarters with the surveillance team and move to Horopp village in search of Yau Saidu and got him arrested in Horopp.
“While giving his confession, Yau Saidu mentioned his gang members who participate in Pa Dariye’s kidnap, he mentioned one Dauda Isa and Titus Ezekiel who are already suspected. The same day we came back to plateau state on 1st July 2021. Myself and the team members with Yau Saidu on reaching Plateau we proceed to Bokkos in the morning where our suspect led us to Horopp in Bokkos to get Dauda Isa and Titus Ezekiel and they were all arrested on 2nd July 2021, they are actively involved in the kidnap we immediately moved them to Abuja as well.
“The Two accused persons gave us a vivid account of their involvements in the crime and how Titus Ezekiel was invited by Dauda Isa.
Dauda Isa narrated his involvement in the kidnapped of Pa Dariye and mentioned some of the gang members as Sunday Ibrahim and Mangut Shinwar who are suspects 4&5, we went back to Plateau state and went to Bokkos LGA and arrested Dauda Isa on 7th July 2021.
During their confession, both culprits mentioned one Henry Amos and Jethro Ngusen who masterminded the kidnap of Pa Dariye.
The team arrested Sunday Ibrahim and Mangut Shinwar at Pankshin cottage hospital before, they booked him at divisional headquarters on 9th July 2021 and move him to Jos.
“When we arrived Jos, Jethro Ngusen and Henry Amos were arrested opposite NTA at the Old Airport. Jethro Ngusen admits to committing the offence, his involvement and how he instructed Sunday Ibrahim to carry out the crime.
ASP Obafemi keeper mark these confessions as CER 119/2021, written in police statement paper and the items were admitted in exhibits B, B1, B2 on 13-07-2021. He also presented a DVD video of the confessional statements by all the accused persons.
Barr. Steve Abba counsel to the 2 and 7 defendants opposed that their confession was done under duress and dehumanising condition, so they accept the outcome of whatever script the witness is looking for.
Abba opposed that his client Mr Jethro Ngusen was tortured to the point that it almost blinded his right eye, so he rejected the admissibility of the statement sought to be tendered in as evidence, saying the prosecution counsel (DPP), needs to prove beyond reasonable doubt the alleged kidnapped of Pa Dariye.
Justice Geoffrey Kamyal of High Court 10, West of Mines Plateau State has adjourned to the 7th of March, 2022 to commence trials.
He assured of his readiness to unmask the killers of former Governor Joshua Chibe Dariye’s father.
The family of Pa Dariye are rising concerns, alleging that the main suspect, Mr Jethro Ngusen who is currently standing trial for murder has been accorded special treatment in dressing, they said he doesn’t wear the image code, and sometimes misbehaved during court proceedings by not standing up even when others are standing.
