Police Arrest 5 Kidnappers, Spiritualists

Kaduna State police said that on November 5th, 2024, at about 0400 hrs, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by their OC, executed a targeted operation in Kundun Village, which led to the arrest of Umar Haruna, Shuaibu Umar, and Hairatu Muntari aka Talatu of Kundun Village.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Munsir Hassan, said the primary target of the operation was Umar Haruna and the suspected gang leader, who remained at large. Investigations revealed that Shuaibu Umar was allegedly invited to participate in a future operation the suspects were planning.

He said, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their roles in a series of kidnappings and disclosed their intentions to kidnap a resident of Maraban Yakawada.

“Further investigations revealed that ransom money obtained from previous kidnappings had been used to purchase bags of maise, which were subsequently recovered as exhibits. In addition to the arrests, the operatives apprehended a third suspect, Abubakar, who served as the gang’s cattle rearer. They recovered eight cows, seven calves, and eight sheep connected to the gang’s activities”.

In the same vein,  he said on 31st October 2024, a resident of Agaji Village reported that his 3-year-old daughter went missing and was nowhere to be found, adding that the following day, the complainant said he received a call from an unknown individual demanding a ransom of N2,000,000 for her safe return.

“The ransom was paid on 2nd November 2024, after which the child was released. Upon receiving the report on 3rd November 2024, detectives from the Saminaka Division immediately launched an investigation.

“Through diligent tracking and intelligence gathering, the officers apprehended the suspect, identified as Isa Sa’adu, 25, of Agaji Village, on November 8, 2024. During interrogation, Sa’adu confessed to the kidnapping”.

The statement added that the suspect recovered the following exhibits obtained from the ransom proceeds: one Gionee mobile phone, a Cash sum of four hundred thousand naira (N400,000), One Boxer motorcycle, one bicycle, and one bag of rice.

Additionally, the PPRO informed that police arrested a second suspect, Malam Mohammed Sani Usman, 35, also from Agaji Village, the marabout who provided spiritual support to the suspect in carrying out the crime. The PPRO added that further investigation is in progress.

“Also, On 8th November 2024, at about 20:10 hours, Acting on credible intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Tafa division led his officers and carried out a planned operation resulting in the arrest of 50-year-old Rotimi Oyewale of Ejigbo, Lagos State in Tafa, Kaduna State.

“The officers recovered the Toyota Hilux from the suspect, who later confessed to stealing the vehicle from Ado Ekiti. According to the suspect, he was en route to deliver the stolen car to a buyer in Kaduna who had agreed to purchase it for 2.5 million Naira.

“The suspect also admitted to stealing three other vehicles, including a Toyota Camry, often called “Big for Nothing,” and a green Toyota Corolla Sport. These vehicles were also reportedly delivered to the same buyer.

Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the receiver, believed to be part of a broader criminal network involved in the sale and distribution of stolen vehicles in Kaduna State and surrounding regions.

Meanwhile, the statement said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Abdullahi, has commended the officers for a job well done and assured the public that the Command remained steadfast in its commitment to dismantle all kidnappers/bandits and other criminal networks across the state.