Kaduna police arrest suspected kidnappers, gunrunners as 75 kidnapped travellers are rescued

Kaduna police arrest suspected kidnappers, gunrunners as 75 kidnapped travellers are rescued

The Kaduna State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal networks across the state, arresting suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and gunrunners while rescuing 75 kidnapped travellers in separate security operations.

The operations were carried out in several parts of Kaduna State as the command stepped up efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

Commissioner of Police Mohammed Rabiu said the operations demonstrated the command’s determination to restore security and protect residents and travellers across the state.

He said the command had identified several criminal flashpoints and was taking proactive measures, including the redeployment of tactical teams, to prevent attacks and apprehend those behind them.

One of the major breakthroughs was recorded in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where police operatives rescued 75 people who had reportedly been abducted while travelling in commercial buses.

The victims, comprising men, women and children, were reportedly intercepted by armed men at Folwaya, near Birnin Gwari, before being taken into a forest.

The police received credible information from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and immediately deployed a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command.

The intervention forced the armed abductors to flee, allowing the security operatives to rescue all 75 victims.

The victims were reportedly rescued unharmed and taken to safety following the operation.

The Commissioner commended the NURTW members for providing the intelligence that enabled the police to respond quickly to the incident.

In another operation in Makarfi Local Government Area, police operatives, working with local vigilantes, reportedly dislodged bandits from hideouts around Gidan Mijin Gwaggo in Durum.

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Three kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation, while efforts continued to track other members of the criminal group.

The Ikara Police Division, also working with members of the vigilante service, arrested six suspected kidnappers after raiding a house allegedly being used as a holding facility in Dogon Pako.

The operation was part of efforts to identify locations being used by criminal groups to keep kidnapped victims and disrupt their activities.

The Kaduna Police Command also announced the arrest of 16 suspected kidnappers during intelligence-led operations conducted across the state.

Three suspected gunrunners were also arrested, with police authorities alleging that they were involved in the illegal movement and supply of firearms to criminal elements.

The command said the arrest of suspected weapons suppliers was crucial to efforts to weaken kidnapping and banditry networks because firearms remain a major tool used by criminal groups operating in the region.

Police also arrested six suspects allegedly linked to a counterfeit currency syndicate and recovered 170 suspected counterfeit US dollar notes.

One of the suspects, identified as Aisha, was arrested in Ramin Kura while allegedly attempting to exchange the suspected counterfeit dollars for naira.

According to the police, her arrest led investigators to two men allegedly involved in supplying the counterfeit currency.

The suspects are expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.

The security operations also resulted in the recovery of several items allegedly linked to criminal activities, including firearms, stolen property, suspected illicit drugs and other valuables.

The command said the operations formed part of a wider strategy to dismantle criminal networks by targeting their personnel, weapons, logistics and sources of funding.

The police have also continued to emphasise the importance of community intelligence in combating kidnapping and banditry, particularly in rural communities and along major transport routes.

The successful rescue of the 75 travellers in Birnin Gwari highlighted the importance of timely information from members of the public and transport operators.

The police urged residents, transport workers and community leaders to continue providing credible information on suspicious movements and criminal activities.

The command also advised residents against confronting armed criminals themselves, stressing that information should be passed to security agencies so that appropriate action can be taken.

The latest operations come amid persistent security concerns in parts of Kaduna State, where communities and major roads have remained vulnerable to kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The police said tactical teams would continue to be deployed to identified criminal flashpoints as part of efforts to prevent attacks and apprehend perpetrators.

The command maintained that the operations would continue until criminal networks threatening the peace and security of Kaduna State are significantly weakened.

For residents and travellers, the rescue of the 75 victims and the arrests recorded across different local government areas represent significant developments in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry in Kaduna.

The police have, however, called for sustained cooperation from residents, saying effective intelligence sharing remains critical to preventing attacks, rescuing victims and bringing suspected criminals to justice.

Kaduna police arrest suspected kidnappers, gunrunners as 75 kidnapped travellers are rescued