A joint security task force in Kaduna State has apprehended 389 suspects and recovered a cache of weapons, illicit drugs, and stolen property during a sweeping operation targeting criminal activity across the state.
This was disclosed on Friday in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, who explained that the arrests came as a result of a coordinated initiative by the state government.
The Special Task Force, led by the Nigeria Police Force, also includes personnel from the military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVIS), and the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA).
Hassan revealed that in just the first nine days of operation, the task force’s intelligence-led raids led to mass arrests and compelled many other suspects to flee Kaduna for fear of apprehension.
Among those arrested was a suspected gang leader, Mathew Adamu, found in possession of a locally fabricated pistol. Another suspect, Adamu Umar, identified as a drug dealer, has been transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation.
Security agents also recovered several dangerous weapons, quantities of illicit drugs, and 29 stolen mobile phones. Some of the recovered items have already been returned to their rightful owners following proper verification.
“This clampdown is just the beginning,” said DSP Hassan, who reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to sustained raids and operations until criminal networks are dismantled across the state.
He added that all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), tactical units, and operatives under the supervision of Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, remain on high alert in pursuit of lasting peace and security.
The police have encouraged residents to stay alert, work closely with security agencies, and report any suspicious activity to nearby police divisions or through the state’s emergency hotlines.