Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 24 suspected kidnappers and recovered 24 firearms, over 500 rounds of live ammunition, 38 cartridges, two AK-47 magazines and a bag containing charms during intelligence-led operations across the state.
Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu said the successes were achieved through intelligence gathering, surveillance, rapid response and collaboration with other security agencies and community vigilantes.
He said operatives of Operation Fushin Kada arrested Abdullahi Ibrahim, 45, in Kudan Local Government Area and recovered 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, while efforts are ongoing to arrest two other suspects linked to the weapons.
Rabiu also disclosed that police recovered three rifles linked to suspected banditry after intercepting a vehicle allegedly transporting the weapons from Yobe State, although the principal suspect, Lawal Umar, remains at large.
The commissioner said detectives also arrested Rayyanu Adamu and Nasiru Abubakar, suspected members of an arms trafficking syndicate, and recovered 300 rounds of ammunition, including 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 30 rounds of Type-06 ammunition.
He added that police, with the support of local vigilantes, repelled a bandit attack in Makarfi Local Government Area, arrested one injured suspect and recovered weapons, while two other suspects were later arrested for allegedly attempting to make a new key for a stolen vehicle traced to Kwara State.
Rabiu reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and combating illegal arms trafficking, while urging residents to continue providing credible information to support security operations across Kaduna State.