The Kaduna state police command has arrested at least eleven suspected kidnappers.

This follows the directives from the state police commissioner to all police formations across the state to start a manhunt for bandits and other criminals.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, issued a statement about this, which was made available to the media in Kaduna on Thursday.

The statement declared that” in connection with the kidnapping incident of a district head on August 14, 2024, where the victim was released on August 16, 2024.

However, on September 2, 2024, at about 0500hrs police operatives in Saminaka in collaboration with a team of local hunters group, acting on credible intelligence, carried out raids in three different villages in Lere Local Government areas, namely Maraban Wasa, Gurzan Hakimi Mariri, and Abugan Kurama.

In the process, “Five suspects were arrested namely, one Abdulhamid Abubakar a.k.a. Bala, 30 years old, one Danjuma Luka a.k.a. Uba, 25 years old, one Ayuba Simon, 50 years old and one Idi Saleh, 57 years old.”

The statement said the following exhibits were recovered from the suspects: One fabricated single-barrel gun, one green Golf, one Bajaj motorcycle, Eight mobile phones.

In the same vein, the statement added that “On the 2nd of September, 2024, at about 2100hrs, acting on credible information about a suspicious movement of bandits, Police operatives laid an ambush in a motor park. A search was conducted, leading to the recovery of four fabricated AK-47 rifles hidden within a consignment.

Also at about 0510hrs the following morning, six suspects were arrested in connection to the incident. The suspects are: Lawal Murtala (M), Isa Kabiru (M), Auwal Surajo (M), Kamala Lawal (M), Umar Adamu (M) and Kabiru Liman (M).

It said exhibits recovered from the suspects include: Four fabricated AK-47 rifles, Two English pistols, Two pump-action guns, 24 cartridges, 29 rounds of live ammunition of various calibers, A large quantity of assorted charms, One walkie-talkie, One axe, A cash sum of Nine Hundred and Eight Thousand, Six Hundred Naira (₦908,600.00)

Additionally, On the 3rd of September, 2024, at about 2200hrs acting on credible information from a reliable source, police operatives were informed that a suspected bandit was lodging in a hotel within the Tafa area of Kagarko Local Government, Kaduna State.

In response, a patrol team was swiftly mobilized and dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the team arrested one Yahaya Yusuf, a 41-years-old male from Kabo Village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

During the investigation, the suspect confessed to being involved in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger and Kaduna. One Tecno cellphone was recovered from the suspect.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, urges the public to continue cooperating with the police and assures that the command will intensify its efforts to clamp down on criminals and their activities within the state,” the statement stressed. (Nigerian Tribune)

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