Kaduna police neutralise kidnappers, arrest 19 suspects, recover arms, stolen items
Kaduna State Police Dismantles Kidnapping Network, Makes Significant Seizures
KADUNA, Nigeria — The Kaduna State Police Command reported on Tuesday that it has successfully dismantled a notorious kidnapping ring, arresting 16 suspected kidnappers and three suspected gunrunners, while also recovering a significant cache of stolen goods valued at approximately N69 million over the past two weeks.
In a series of operations across the state, police recovered 190 stolen solar inverters, 10 lithium batteries worth around N9 million, 10 firearms of various calibers, 170 counterfeit U.S. dollar notes, 83 packs of hard drugs, 32 stolen mobile phones, two plasma televisions, a stolen Toyota Sienna, and more than 400 rustled cattle.
At a news briefing at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna, Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad emphasized the commitment of the police to disrupting criminal activities that threaten the security of the region.
“Within the two-week period, we neutralized notorious kidnappers, arrested suspects with counterfeit dollar notes, and recovered various firearms and stolen property,” Muhammad stated.
One notable arrest involved a 20-year-old woman, Aisha Barau, apprehended in Ramin Kura Village while allegedly attempting to exchange counterfeit currency. Muhammad noted her confession, which implicated two men, Abdullahi Muhammad and Danbala Jibrin, leading to further arrests within the criminal network.
Additionally, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit acted on intelligence to capture three suspected gunrunners in Jos, Plateau State. The suspects—Luka Samuel, John Paul, and Musa Elisha—were found in possession of two locally fabricated pistols. They reportedly confessed to supplying arms to various bandit groups operating in Northern Nigeria.
In another operation, police collaborated with the Yan Sa Kai vigilante group to arrest Abdullahi Mohammed, known as “Aala,” in Kargi Village, Kano State. He is believed to have orchestrated multiple kidnapping incidents, including the killing of two members of the vigilante group last year. Authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition from him.
The police also made a breakthrough in vehicle theft cases, recovering a stolen Toyota Sienna taken from a mosque in Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna.
Muhammad urged residents to continue sharing timely information with the police, assuring that efforts would persist to eradicate criminal elements and enhance safety in Kaduna State.
