Police Arrest 25 Suspected Kidnappers, Killers In Kaduna

Kaduna State Police Command has nabbed 25 suspected kidnappers and killers, recovered firearms, stolen vehicles and hard drugs in a series of operations conducted across the state within the last two weeks.

The commissioner of police, Muhammad Rabiu, who disclosed this yesterday during a briefing to journalists on the command’s activities, said the arrests were recorded through intelligence-led policing and sustained operations against criminal elements.

The CP said the suspects comprised 12 suspected kidnappers and 13 suspects linked to culpable homicide, while four stolen vehicles, firearms and 2,700 sachets of tramadol were also recovered during the operations.

He said police operatives arrested six suspected kidnappers and bandits following credible intelligence on the movement of illegal firearms across state lines.

According to him, the suspects were tracked to Sagamu in Ogun State, where they were arrested and subsequently transferred to Kaduna for further investigation.

Rabiu said a search of their hideout led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one pump-action gun, one fabricated pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and four cartridges.

In a related development, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Zaria arrested one Yahya Alhaji Yusuf for alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery.

The police commissioner said the suspect confessed to participating in the kidnapping of two persons along the Buruku axis and collecting N6 million ransom, adding that an AK-47 rifle was recovered from him.

On culpable homicide, the CP said police operatives arrested 13 suspects in connection with the killing of two persons following allegations of witchcraft in Katuga Unguwar Ruwa Village of Kagarko local government area.

He identified the deceased persons as Isiyaka Bijimi and Mercy Danladi, noting that the incident later triggered communal violence in the area.

Rabiu further disclosed that operatives intercepted two suspected drug dealers and recovered 2,700 sachets of tramadol during an operation in Zaria.

The suspects, identified as Jamilu Ahmed and Mubarak Ibrahim, reportedly confessed to dealing in illicit drugs within the metropolis and neighbouring communities.

The police commissioner also said detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested one Shamsudeen Usman over the theft of a Golf III Station Wagon reported stolen in the Makera area of Kaduna.

Similarly, three suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate were arrested while attempting to deliver a stolen Toyota Corolla to a buyer in Kaduna.

The suspects allegedly confessed to the crime, while police operatives recovered the vehicle.

Rabiu added that a Hyundai Sonata reported stolen at Murtala Mohammed Square was also recovered after the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled.

He assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence gathering and targeted operations aimed at tackling kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other crimes across the State.