The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested 31 persons suspected to be involved in armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

The suspects were paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, at the Katari Police Station located on the outskirts of Kaduna State.

Mr Moshood told reporters that the suspects, made up of five different groups of one cartel, were apprehended at various locations in Kaduna State with a cache of arms.

A youth leader in Katari, Mr Joshua Jooji, who applauded the efforts of the police in apprehending the suspects, said their activities in the area had prevented farmers from going to their farms due to fear of being kidnapped.

The arrest comes almost a week after the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, deployed a Joint Police Team with a mandate to wipe out kidnappers on the highway.

The Force spokesman had hinted that the team deployed in Rijanah, Kaduna State comprised the Special Police Force, Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Units, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, the Force Intelligence Branch, and the Police Mobile Force with Headquarters.

He noted earlier that the police personnel would be proactive and also work on actionable intelligence at their disposal to carry out massive deployment.

Mr Moshood assured travellers that the team would ensure 24 hours surveillance, patrol and continuous raids of identified and other suspected hideouts of kidnappers along the highway. Channels TV)

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