The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 12 suspected kidnappers and gunrunners and recovered arms in operations across Taraba, Kaduna, and other states.
Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Tuesday, credited the arrests to sustained intelligence gathering. He said operatives of the FID Special Tactical Squad, in collaboration with the Taraba State Command, local hunters, and vigilante groups, apprehended four suspects—Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Haruna, Yusuf Bello, and Mohammed Bako—on April 25 in Mararaban Abbare, Lau LGA, while they were planning an attack. The team recovered two AK-49 rifles, one AK-47 rifle, six magazines, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Earlier intelligence had revealed the gang’s involvement in kidnappings across Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna. A follow-up raid led to the arrest of five more suspects: Sulaiman Mohammed, Tijjani Bello, Muhammed Umar, Adamu Ibrahim, Solomon Nathaniel, and Haruna Adamu. Three AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, and four magazines were recovered.
In a separate operation on April 17, police in Kaduna arrested Isa Ibrahim, who confessed to relocating to form a new gang after his partners were arrested in Kwara. Two other suspects, Sani Liman and Murtala Magaji, were arrested the same day in Lamido village, Lere LGA, and admitted to kidnapping activities.
On April 18, officers acting on intelligence arrested two suspected arms dealers, Bajo Badun and Magaji Abdullahi, with fabricated AK-47 rifles. Another suspect, Ishiyaku Ali, was later apprehended with two locally-made rifles and a chain concealed in a sack.
Adejobi confirmed that all suspects will be charged upon the conclusion of investigations.
