Five alleged kidnap suspects, car thief nabbed in Kaduna

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested five notorious kidnapping suspects from Maigana in Soba Local Government Area of the state and neighbouring Tafa town in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, stated this in a statement on Thursday.

He said two of the  suspects were arrested at the point of collecting ransom from the relatives of their victims in Maigana while there others were picked up at Tafa town.

Meanwhile, the police spokesman also announced that operatives apprehended one Chinago Harrison, a suspected car thief around Manya street, Ungwan Romi area of the state.

He added that “a black Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, 2013 model, with registration number KTU 886 JD, chassis number JTMHY7AJXD4017043, and engine number 3UR3151879,” stolen from Ogun State was recovered from the suspect.

The development, he said, followed the state Commissioner of Police’s orders for the continued clampdown on kidnappers and their informants across the state.

According to him, “On June 15, 2024, at about 18:10 hours, the Divisional Police Officer of Maigana received intelligence from a concerned citizen regarding a group of kidnappers planning to collect ransom money from the relatives of their victim.

“Acting swiftly, the DPO mobilised his patrol team and some members of the local vigilante group to the location. The operation resulted in the successful arrest of the suspects, Shuiabu Bala, 23 years old, male, from Malanta, Gimba Village, Safinu Musa, 22 years old, male, from Bugau Village, Anchau, Kubau L.G.A.”

He added that the duo confessed to the crime while an investigation was ongoing to apprehend other members of the kidnapping gang currently at large.

Hassan said in furtherance to the ongoing clampdown on kidnappers and their informants within the state, a significant breakthrough was recorded when “on June 17, 2024, acting on credible intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer of Tafa, it was reported that some suspected kidnappers were sighted roaming around Tafa Town.”

“At about 1700 hours, the DPO immediately mobilised and led a surveillance team, in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force of Tafa, to the scene.

“As a result of this swift action, three suspected kidnappers were arrested and brought to the station. The suspects have been identified as Sani Amadu (male, 17 years), Sani Lawal (male, 20 years), and Aliyu Usman (male, 22 years), all residents of Dadin Kowa, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State.

“During the course of the investigation, incriminating evidence, including pictures and videos of banditry activities, was discovered on their cell phones. Upon completion of the preliminary investigation, the case will be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further action,” he added.

Similarly, the police spokesman continued that “on June 13, 2024, at about 1600 hours, based on cultivated intelligence that a criminal element was sighted at Kachia Road by the Railway Station Roundabout in Kaduna with a motor vehicle strongly suspected to be stolen. Acting swiftly on the information, a team from the Anti-Car Theft Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department mobilised to the scene.

“The operatives arrested one Chinago Harrison, male, of Manya Street, Ungwan Romi, Kaduna.

“They recovered a black Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, 2013 model, with registration number KTU 886 JD, chassis number JTMHY7AJXD4017043, and engine number 3UR3151879.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the vehicle was stolen from Sir Dingshegyuan Plastic Processing and Manufacturing Company Limited, located at the Interchange in Shagamu, Ogun State. The suspect will be handed over to Ogun State Police Command for further investigations.”

He said the  command remained  committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of the state while adding that “the Commissioner of Police, Audu Ali Dabigi,  urged the public to continue their support by reporting any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.”