Kaduna Command arrests 29 suspects, seizes AK-47s, drugs in two weeks

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 29 suspects and recovered firearms, stolen vehicles, and illicit drugs in a series of coordinated operations carried out over the past two weeks.

Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna, noting that the achievements were made possible through intelligence-led policing, inter-agency collaboration, and credible information from residents.

He said the arrests include 12 suspected kidnappers, 13 suspects linked to murder cases, and four suspected vehicle thieves. He also confirmed the recovery of four stolen vehicles.

One of the major breakthroughs occurred on June 5, when police tracked a group of suspected bandits to a forest hideout in Sagamu, Ogun State, following intelligence on illegal arms movement.

Six suspects were arrested in the operation. They were identified as Bukar Bulama, Abubakar Mohammad, Mohammad Usman, Ibrahim Sani, Aliyu Usman, and Dan Bello Umaru. Police recovered two AK-47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a locally fabricated pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four cartridges.

The commissioner said the suspects have been transferred to Kaduna for further investigation and prosecution.

In another operation, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Zaria arrested Yahya Alhaji Yusuf on May 28 over alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, and banditry.

Police said the suspect confessed to abducting two victims along the Buruku axis and collecting a ransom of N6 million. An AK-47 rifle was also reportedly recovered from him.

The command also arrested Usama Tijjani, accused of using false identities to lure women to hotels and steal their belongings.

Investigators said the suspect confessed to defrauding over 200 women. Police recovered 20 mobile phones and gold jewellery valued at more than N30 million.

In a separate operation, a joint security team led by CSP Sani Ibrahim Zuntu arrested 13 suspects in Katuga Unguwar Ruwa Village, Kagarko Local Government Area, over the deaths of Isiyaka Bijimi and Mercy Danladi.

The incident was linked to allegations of witchcraft that triggered violence in the community. Those arrested include Comfort Emmanuel, Ayuba Jatau, Daniel Enoch, and ten others.

The command also recorded progress in its anti-drug operations, arresting Jamilu Ahmed and Mubarak Ibrahim in Zaria with 2,700 sachets of Tramadol. The suspects allegedly admitted to distributing the drugs within the metropolis.

In another case, police arrested Shamsudeen Usman for allegedly stealing a Volkswagen Golf III in Makera, Kakuri, with the vehicle recovered along the Kaduna–Abuja highway.

Three other suspects — Shehu Muhammed, Abubakar Musa, and Adamu Manu — were also arrested while attempting to dispose of a stolen Toyota Corolla LE in Kaduna.

Operatives also recovered a Hyundai Sonata stolen from Murtala Mohammed Square after suspects abandoned it while fleeing from security operatives.

The commissioner described the operations as a demonstration of the command’s resolve to maintain pressure on criminal networks across the state.