Kaduna Police arrest 12 kidnap suspects, recover arms, vehicles, drugs in two weeks

The Kaduna State Police Command says it has arrested 12 suspected kidnappers, 13 homicide suspects and four suspected car thieves in a series of operations carried out across the state over the last two weeks.

The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Kaduna while presenting the command’s operational achievements.

He said the arrests were part of sustained efforts to tackle insecurity through intelligence-driven policing and coordinated operations with other security agencies.

According to him, police operatives also recovered four stolen vehicles, firearms and 2,700 sachets of tramadol during the period under review.

Rabiu said one of the major breakthroughs followed intelligence on the movement of illicit firearms across state lines, which led operatives to Sagamu, Ogun State.

He said six suspected bandits were arrested during the operation, while a search of their hideout in a forest led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one pump-action gun, one locally fabricated pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition and four cartridges.

The commissioner said the suspects had been transferred to Kaduna for further investigation and prosecution.

He also disclosed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Zaria arrested another suspect linked to kidnapping and banditry.

According to him, the suspect confessed to involvement in kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery activities, including collecting a ransom of N6 million from two victims abducted along the Buruku axis.

Rabiu said investigations led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle allegedly belonging to the suspect.

The command also arrested a man accused of luring women to hotels, gaining their trust and dispossessing them of phones, jewellery and other valuables.

The police commissioner said the suspect admitted during interrogation to deceiving over 200 women and stealing their belongings after engaging them.

He said items recovered from him included gold jewellery estimated at over N30 million and 20 mobile phones suspected to be proceeds of crime.

On homicide investigations, Rabiu said police arrested 13 suspects in connection with a case involving alleged witchcraft accusations and the killing of two persons in Katuga Unguwar Ruwa community of Kagarko Local Government Area.

He said the incident later triggered communal unrest and investigations were ongoing to determine individual levels of involvement.

The commissioner further announced the arrest of two suspected drug dealers intercepted with 2,700 sachets of tramadol.

According to him, the suspects confessed to operating within and around Zaria metropolis.

Rabiu also said the command recorded success in tackling vehicle theft.

He said detectives arrested a suspect over the theft of a Golf III Station Wagon in Kaduna and later recovered the vehicle along the Kaduna–Abuja Road.

In another operation, three suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate were arrested while allegedly attempting to sell a stolen Toyota Corolla in Kaduna.

Police also recovered a Hyundai Sonata earlier reported stolen at Murtala Mohammed Square after the suspects abandoned it and fled.

The commissioner commended officers involved in the operations and appreciated the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Kaduna State Government and residents for providing useful information.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with timely intelligence to strengthen public safety across the state.