The Kaduna State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal networks across the state, neutralising notorious kidnappers, arresting 19 suspected criminals, including kidnappers and gunrunners, and recovering counterfeit United States dollar notes, firearms and stolen property worth millions of naira.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna. He said the achievements were recorded during coordinated operations conducted across the state over the past two weeks.
According to him, the command arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, three suspected gunrunners and six suspects linked to a counterfeit currency syndicate. Operatives also recovered 170 counterfeit US dollar notes, 10 firearms of various calibres, 190 stolen solar inverters valued at about ₦69 million, 10 lithium batteries worth approximately ₦9 million, a stolen Toyota Sienna vehicle, 83 packs of hard drugs, 32 stolen mobile phones, two plasma television sets and more than 400 rustled cattle.
Muhammad said the operations reflected the command’s determination to dismantle criminal gangs threatening public safety in Kaduna State.
“Within the two weeks under review, the Kaduna State Police Command neutralised notorious kidnappers, arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, six suspects found in possession of 170 pieces of counterfeit dollar notes, three suspected gunrunners, recovered 10 firearms of different calibres, 190 solar inverters worth ₦69 million, one stolen vehicle, 83 packs of hard drugs, 32 stolen phones, two plasma televisions and 410 cattle during various operations,” he said.
The police commissioner explained that one of the major breakthroughs followed the arrest of a 20 year old woman, Aisha Barau, in Ramin Kura Village while allegedly attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollar notes for naira.
He said the suspect confessed that the fake currency had been supplied by Abdullahi Muhammad and Danbala Jibrin, leading investigators to other members of the syndicate.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of several other members of the syndicate. They will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Muhammad stated.
The commissioner also disclosed that operatives of the Anti Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, tracked and arrested three suspected gunrunners in Jos, Plateau State. The suspects, identified as Luka Samuel, John Paul and Musa Elisha, were apprehended with two locally fabricated pistols.
According to him, the suspects confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to bandits operating in different parts of northern Nigeria.
In another operation, police operatives working with members of the Yan Sa Kai vigilante group arrested Abdullahi Mohammed, popularly known as “Aala”, in Kargi Village, Ikara Local Government Area of Kano State after months of surveillance.
Muhammad said the suspect admitted masterminding several kidnapping operations in Kuzuntu Village and other parts of Kano State.
“He also admitted participating in the killing of two Yan Sa Kai members during an attack carried out last year,” the commissioner said, adding that an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
The command also recovered a Toyota Sienna stolen from the premises of a Juma’at Mosque in Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna, as part of its efforts to combat vehicle theft.
Muhammad appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, assuring that the command would sustain intelligence driven operations to rid Kaduna State of criminal elements and protect lives and property.
