A self-confessed assassin has admitted to having collected the sum of N40,000, in two instalments of N20,000 to murder Hon Ibrahim Abba Garko and Hon Isa Kademi, both members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Garko, member of the house representing Garko Constituency on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was killed on November 17, 2012 by gunmen operating on motorbikes in front of his residence in Yanawaki Ungwar-Uku General Area while Kademi, a three-time former chairman of Gaya Local Government Area and one-time chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State and a member of the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) was assassinated in front of his guest house in Hotoro Maradun on December 14 during the evening rush h0ur.
According to the interrogation tape exclusively obtained, the professional dyer-turned-assassin, Ibrahim Lawal, in which he claimed to have been a member of the gang hired by a PDP chieftain, Alhaji Sale Kura to assassinate the legislators.
Lawal and Kura had been paraded by the Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Idris before journalists on Wednesday, when they denied being involved in the assassinations.
On the 25-minute interrogation tape, Lawal told the interrogators that he was not a member of Boko Haram, but rather an armed robber and a hired assassin.
“We operate in a group of six and all of us live in Ungwa Uku. We were mobilized by Sale Kura who personally handed N20,000 to me twice and we trekked to the abode of one of the victims while the remaining gang members came on a motorbike.
“The target was identified and we went out of our way to spray the remaining in the vicinity. The gang members then fled in the ensuing confusion.”
The interrogation videotape opens in an apartment when six officers, led by a high-ranking officer were seated, after which a mobile police officer came in with the suspect.
A gentle voice asked the first question, “Who are you?”
The suspect answered: “My name is Ibrahim Lawal; I live at Layin Yarbawa Ungwa-Uku. I had my primary education at Ungwa Uku, and proceeded to Government Secondary School Bichi. I ventured into professional dying after I dropped out of secondary school. I maintained a shop at Layin Tazarce at the same quarters.”
When asked if he was a member of Boko Haram, the suspect declared loudly, “I am not a member of Boko Haram; I am a hired assassin and armed robber. We are a gang of six and we all live in Ungwa Uku.”
A police officer then asked, “Tell us more about the group.”
Lawal replied: “We have Sagir Yahuza of Farin Massalaci Ungwa Uku, Surajo Adamu of Layin Tazarce Ungwa Uku, Tasiu Shuaibu of Layin Yarabawa Ungwa Uku and Mohammed AbdulSalam of Layin Tazarce Ungwa Uku quarters in Kano metropolis”.
When asked how he joined the gang, the suspect claimed that he had been recruited by Alhaji Sale Kura who is his neighbour and with whom he has related well since Alhaji Kura became the chairman of Taurani Local Government in 1999.
He also claimed that they are not only into killings, but armed robbery as well, and Alhaji Kura always provided them with concoctions to drink before going on operations. The drink had the effect of making them very bold and they faced whatever risks lay ahead.
The interrogation came to an end with a question on how the suspect was captured by the police.
Lawal stated: “I was with Mabo, the leader of the gang, when we received a call that a person on our hit list was sighted around Mabo shop and we quickly armed ourselves and moved in but, on arriving at the shop, the said person was no where to be found.
“As we were returning to my shop on a motorbike, we were accosted by a team of police officers who arrested me but Mabo was lucky as he escaped.”
Already, the state command of the Police has vowed not to spare anyone connected with the assassination of the lawmakers.
A senior officer of the Command said, “we would ensure that our investigation into the matter is very thorough as well as send the right signal that the Police Force of today means well; just as our Inspector General, MD Abubakar, is leaving no stone unturned in his transformation of the Force