Police foil kidnap attempt on Kaduna-Abuja highway, arrest three suspects

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested three members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja highway and neighbouring states.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated this in a statement in Kaduna on Friday.

Hassan said the suspects, identified as Muhammad Lawal Abubakar, 40, Abubakar Isah, 40, and Samaila Saidu, 65, were apprehended on 5 November 2024 during a targeted intelligence-led operation by the Operation Fushin Kada Tracking and Response Team.

According to the police spokesman, operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine from the suspects.

He added that during interrogation, all three suspects confessed to being part of a kidnapping syndicate known for terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

He said, “The syndicate has been linked to a string of violent incidents across the region, causing distress among residents and travellers alike.”

“The suspects are currently cooperating with the police and have provided crucial information to assist in the possible arrest of other syndicate members at large and to facilitate the recovery of additional firearms in the group’s possession.”

Hassan quoted the new State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Abdullahi, as commending the operatives for their diligence, while urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

He affirmed that “the command remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens and will continue to deploy all resources necessary to dismantle criminal networks in the state.”

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