Police arrest 11 suspected kidnappers in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command said its personnel have arrested 11 suspected kidnappers across the state.

In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, he said the personnel also recovered locally made rifles and other items during various operations.

It said the personnel from Saminaka, in mid-August, in collaboration with local hunters, conducted raids on three villages in Lere Local Government Area—Maraban Wasa, Gurzan Hakimi Mariri, and Abugan Kurama—where four suspects, Abdulhamid Abubakar (30), Danjuma Luka (25), Ayuba Simon (50), and Idi Saleh (57), were arrested.

According to the statement, the personnel recovered a fabricated single-barrel gun, a green Golf car, a Bajaj motorcycle, and eight mobile phones.

He further said that on September 2, 2024, at around 9:00 PM, police set up an ambush at a motor park following credible intelligence about suspicious activities.

The operation led to the discovery of four fabricated AK-47 rifles concealed within a consignment. Six suspects—Lawal Murtala, Isa Kabiru, Auwal Surajo, Kamala Lawal, Umar Adamu, and Kabiru Liman—were arrested at approximately 5:10 AM the next morning.

“Confiscated items included four fabricated AK-47 rifles, two English pistols, two pump-action guns, 24 cartridges, 29 rounds of live ammunition of various calibers, a large quantity of assorted charms, a walkie-talkie, an axe, and N908,600 in cash,” he said.

According to him, on September 3, 2024, at around 10:00 PM, police acted on reliable information about a suspected bandit staying at a hotel in Tafa, Kagarko Local Government Area.

A patrol team arrested Yahaya Yusuf, a 41-year-old from Kabo Village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State. Yusuf confessed to involvement in cattle rustling and kidnapping in both Niger and Kaduna states. A Tecno cellphone was recovered from him.

The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, has called on the public to continue cooperating with the police and assured that efforts to combat criminal activities will be intensified.