The Kaduna State Police Command has made significant strides in its fight against crime, arresting 24 suspected kidnappers and recovering 24 firearms, including three AK-47 rifles. The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday. The recovered firearms also included hundreds of rounds of live ammunition. The police command's achievements were recorded through intelligence-led operations, surveillance, rapid response, and collaboration with other security agencies and community-based security structures.
On September 24, operatives of Operation Fushin Kada attached to Kudan Local Government Area arrested a 45-year-old man, Abdullahi Ibrahim, during a routine patrol along the Maraban Kanja area. A search of the suspect led to the recovery of two locally made AK-47 rifles, nine locally made long guns, 10 locally made pistols, two AK-47 magazines, 50 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 38 live cartridges. The suspect told investigators that he obtained the weapons from two individuals identified as Saidu Magari and Mallam Ado, who are currently at large.
In another operation, the command recovered three firearms allegedly linked to banditry and cattle rustling along the Kidandan-Birnin Gwari axis. The recovery followed intelligence on the activities of one Lawal Umar of Kidandan village, Giwa Local Government Area. However, Umar was still at large, and efforts were ongoing to apprehend him and uncover the network behind the movement of the firearms.
The police command also intercepted a vehicle suspected to have been used to transport arms from Nguru, Yobe State, at Dogarawa, Zaria. The vehicle was found to contain an AK-47 rifle, a Type-06 rifle, and an LAR rifle, all with empty magazines. Furthermore, two suspected members of an arms and ammunition trafficking syndicate, Rayyanu Adamu and Nasiru Abubakar, were arrested around Giwa and the railway station axis.
Detectives recovered 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 30 rounds of Type-06 ammunition from the suspects. The police command's efforts to curb crime also led to the foiling of a bandit attack in Gimi Ward, Makarfi Local Government Area, on September 20. One of the attackers, 20-year-old Usman Alhaji Dahiru, was wounded and arrested, while a locally made rifle, pistol, ammunition, and charms were recovered.
In addition to kidnapping and firearms recovery, the police command also made progress in vehicle theft cases. Two suspects, Hamza Yushau and Abdullahi Abdullahi, were arrested at New Panteka while they were allegedly attempting to make a new key for a stolen Hyundai Elantra. The suspects confessed to purchasing the vehicle from one Abdulkadir Yahaya of Zaria, who is currently at large.
The Commissioner of Police assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against criminals and called on the public to provide timely information on suspicious activities. He emphasized that there would be no breathing space for criminals who seek to threaten the peace and security of their communities.
Key points
- 24 suspected kidnappers arrested, 24 firearms recovered
- Police recover hundreds of rounds of live ammunition
- Command foils bandit attack, arrests suspects in vehicle theft case
