Police arrest ‘gunrunners, kidnappers’ in Kaduna

The Kaduna police command says its operatives have arrested “two notorious gunrunners, three kidnappers and two cattle rustlers” in the state.

In a statement on Sunday, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the command, said the operatives also foiled a kidnap attempt and recovered one AK-47 rifle. 

Hassan said the apprehended suspects are Aminu Saleh, 25, and Jafar Ibrahim, 24. 

“On Thursday, police operatives, acting on a credible intelligence report, conducted a successful raid,” the statement reads.

“It was on a hideout used by a notorious syndicate involved in the rustling of cattle from innocent farmers in the Kasuwa Magani area of Kujama, Kaduna.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime and revealed that they have been working with four other syndicate members who are currently at large.”

The police spokesperson added that one Shafiu Abdullahi told Operation Fushin Kada that he had been receiving threatening phone calls asking him to pay N10 million. 

Hassan said operatives swung into action and apprehended the suspects who confessed to the crime and their involvement in other illegal activities.

He identified the suspects as Dahiru Liman, 47, of Garin Kurama village in Lere LGA of Kaduna state; and Sani Abdullahi Makeri, 45, of Kankara LGA in Katsina state.

“The tracking and response team immediately took action, using advanced techniques to locate and apprehend the suspects,” he said.

“The suspects detained are: Umar Baso, Shehu Filani, and Babangida Abdulkarim, all residents of Soba and Kajuru L.G.A.s of Kaduna state.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime, providing detailed accounts of their actions.

“Additionally, on Saturday, the operatives arrested two suspects involved in supplying arms and ammunition to kidnappers operating in Kaduna and Katsina States as well as Zamfara.”

He added that operatives recovered one fabricated AK-47 rifle and five rounds of 9mm live ammunition during the operation.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and safeguarding residents.