Police arrest 12 suspected kidnappers, gun runners, recover arms, ammunition

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested suspected kidnappers, gun runners, and recovered arms across several states.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in a statement, said the successes were due to intelligence.

He added that on April 25, 2025, operatives of the FID Special Tactical Squad (STS) in collaboration with operatives of the Taraba State Police command, local hunters and vigilante group arrested four suspected kidnappers in Mararaban Abbare, Lau L.G.A., while they were planning an operation.

It said the suspects, identified as Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Haruna, Yusuf Bello, and Mohammed Bako, were found in possession of 2 AK-49 rifles, 1 AK-47 rifle, six magazines, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

“Prior to this arrest, the operatives had earlier received intelligence on a group of kidnapping gang terrorizing Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau,Bauchi, and Kaduna States.

“A successful raid conducted at the hideout of this gang led to the arrest of five suspected kidnappers,” he said.

The statement identified the suspects as Sulaiman Mohammed, Tijjani Bello, Muhammed Umar, Adamu Ibrahim,Solomon Nathaniel, Haruna Adamu while 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 AK-49 rifle, and 4 AK-47 magazines were found on them

In a similar development, on April 17, 2025, acting on intelligence, Police Operatives attached to Kaduna State Command apprehended one Isa Ibrahim, a suspected kidnapper, who confessed to relocating to Kaduna to establish a new gang after his accomplices were arrested in Kwara State.

It said on the same date, operatives of the Kaduna State Command mobilized a patrol team to Lamido village, Lere LGA, where two suspected kidnappers, Sani Liman and Murtala Magaji, were apprehended and both suspects confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities in the area.

“On April 18, 2025, police operatives of the state, acting on received information about the activities of suspected gun runners, arrested 2 suspects identified as Bajo Badun and Magaji Abdullahi, who were found in possession of two fabricated AK-47 rifles and later arrested one Ishiyaku Ali, along the Kauru-Pambegua Road of the state in possession of two locally-fabricated rifles and a long chain concealed in a sack,” he added.

He disclosed that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Police arrest 12 suspected kidnappers, gun runners, recover arms, ammunition