Police Arrest 12 Suspected Kidnappers, Informants, Recover AK-47 Rifles In Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants.

The police also recovered AK-47 rifles during intensified security operations in Millennium City and Mararaban Rido, on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.

The Command Spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, said two of the suspected informants allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements, undermining security efforts and endangering the lives of security personnel and residents.

The arrests followed a crackdown involving the police and other security agencies in response to recent security challenges in the affected communities.

The Senior Police Officer said the suspects were arrested during clearance operations, targeted raids and patrols aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks and disrupting their activities.

The eight suspected kidnappers were identified as Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.

The four suspected informants are Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew.

Hassan said investigations were ongoing to establish the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement, identify other accomplices and bring those connected with the criminal activities to justice.

He added that the Kaduna State Government had released three additional Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the police command to strengthen its operational capacity and improve security in Millennium City and surrounding communities.

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, had also ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles and other security resources to the affected areas to intensify surveillance, improve response time and prevent further criminal activities.

The command said clearance operations against criminal hideouts would be sustained to dismantle criminal networks and facilitate the rescue of kidnapped victims.

The latest measures followed a security engagement meeting held on October 10 by a high-powered state government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Sani Kila, alongside security chiefs, traditional rulers, community members and other stakeholders from the affected areas.

At the meeting, Kila reportedly reiterated that security was a collective responsibility and urged residents, community leaders, landlords and youth groups to promptly report individuals suspected of aiding or abetting criminal activities.

The Commissioner of Police also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, particularly because Millennium City is surrounded by forested areas on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.

Rabiu called on members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to support efforts to combat kidnapping and other crimes.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and pro
property across Kaduna State.