The Nigeria Police Force says it has recorded another breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping and gun-running with the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition in separate operations carried out in Kaduna and Delta States.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the coordinated operations were intelligence-led and executed by tactical units of the Force.
According to the statement, the rescue of a kidnap victim, Hussaini Ibrahim, in Kaduna State was one of the major successes recorded. Ibrahim, who was abducted from Jagindi Tasha Village in Jema’a Local Government Area, was abandoned in a nearby forest by his abductors after police operatives launched a rescue mission.
“Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of four suspects directly connected with the abduction, namely: Umar Yusuf Jabiri of Jagindi Tasha, Buhari Muhammad, also known as ‘General,’ of Bayya Village, Ahmadu Nasiru of Gidan Waya, and Zakari Saleh. Recovered from them were one AK-47 rifle and two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles,” Adejobi said.
In a related development, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a suspicious waybill from Jos, Plateau State, headed for Gusau, Zamfara State. A search of the consignment revealed an AK-47 rifle concealed inside a sack. Two suspects, Abdulmumin Sani and Naziru Musa, who allegedly came to Gusau to take delivery of the weapon, were arrested.
The statement added that in Delta State, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), supported by the X-Squad and Buffalo Patrol Units, stormed a kidnap syndicate’s hideout along Ibusa Road. During the raid, one notorious suspect identified as Chiadiji Collins, alias “Smooth,” 42, was arrested. He is believed to be behind several kidnappings in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, and Asaba.
A follow-up search at his residence in Ewulu community, Aniocha South LGA, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and 40 rounds of live ammunition. Investigations also led to the arrest of a second suspect, Ezechie Andrew, found in possession of two pump-action guns and two live cartridges.
All suspects are currently in custody and assisting police investigations aimed at dismantling the remaining networks of the criminal gangs.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the professionalism and bravery of the operatives, stressing that the successes recorded reflect the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing, inter-agency collaboration, and proactive crime-fighting strategies.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and provide timely information that could help security agencies rid communities of violent criminals.
