By John Ikani
The Nigeria Police have arrested disgraced ‘super cop,’ and former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, as well as 4 others on Monday over their alleged involvement in a case of illicit drug trafficking.
The arrest came hours after Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and four others wanted over alleged links with drug trafficking.
Others are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
A statement issued by police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that the Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Baba ordered the arrest.
Heritage Times gathered that DCP Abba Kyari and other indicted members of his IRT team were taken into custody and shortly after handed over to the NDLEA operatives for conclusive investigation, while appropriate disciplinary actions are also being initiated against them by the Force leadership.
Also confirming the development, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi issued a statement noting that the indited cops were into the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja at about 5 pm on Monday for interrogation and further investigation.
The agency vowed that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that suspects in custody and those that may still be named face the full weight of the law.
Kyari, a highly decorated DCP was the most celebrated crime-buster in the Nigerian Police Force, leading him to be given the sobriquet of a “Supercop” for his extraordinary, if not close to legendary, prowess in tracking down and nabbing armed robbers and kidnappers.
However, he was in 2021 indicted as a conspirator in a $1.1m fraud deal involving Instagram celebrity Hushpuppi.
The indictment led to Kyari’s suspension and an internal investigation was launched, amid calls for him to be extradited to the US.
