Five suspected kidnappers arrested in Kaduna

Five suspected kidnappers arrested in Kaduna

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police have arrested five suspected kidnappers in Kundun village in the state.

According to the police command, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in a series of kidnapping across the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the State Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, said further investigations revealed that ransom money obtained from previous kidnap activities had been used to purchase bags of maize, which were later recovered as exhibits.

The suspects were arrested on November 5, 2024, at approximately 4:00 am by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by their officer in charge. The targeted operation in Kundun village resulted in the arrest of Umar Haruna, Shuaibu Umar, and Hairatu Muntari, aka Talatu.

“The primary target of the operation was Umar Haruna, the suspected gang leader, who remains at large. Investigations revealed that Shuaibu Umar had been invited to participate in a future operation that the suspects were planning,” Hassan stated.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their roles in a series of kidnappings. They even disclosed their intentions to kidnap a resident of Maraban Yakawada. Further investigations also revealed that ransom money from previous kidnapping had been used to buy bags of maize, which were recovered as exhibits,” he added.

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The operatives also apprehended a third suspect, Abubakar, who served as the gang’s cattle rearer. The police recovered eight cows, seven calves, and eight sheep connected to the gang’s activities.

In another incident, he said, “On October 31, a resident of Agaji village reported that his 3-year-old daughter had gone missing. The following day, he received a call from an unknown individual demanding a ransom of two million naira (N2,000,000) for her safe return. The ransom was paid on November 2, 2024, and the child was released.

“Upon receiving the report on November 3, 2024, detectives from the Saminaka Division launched an immediate investigation. Through diligent tracking and intelligence gathering, the officers arrested Isa Sa’adu, 25, of Agaji village, on November 8, 2024. During interrogation, Sa’adu confessed to the kidnapping.”

The following items, obtained from the ransom proceeds, were recovered from Sa’adu: one Gionee mobile phone, 400,000 naira in cash, one Boxer motorcycle, one bicycle, and one bag of rice.

Additionally, the police arrested a second suspect, Malam Mohammed Sani Usman, 35, from Agaji village. Usman, a marabout, had provided spiritual support to Sa’adu in carrying out the crime.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Abdullahi, commended the officers for a job well done and assured the public that the command remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling all kidnapping, banditry, and criminal networks across the state.

 

Five suspected kidnappers arrested in Kaduna