Kaduna Police foil kidnapping attempt, arrest arms dealers, recover 300 rounds
The Kaduna State Police Command has foiled a kidnapping attempt, arrested three suspected arms dealers and recovered three locally made firearms and 300 rounds of live ammunition.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Hassan said that on Sept. 20, at about 1:15 a.m., the command received a distress call that armed bandits had attacked a resident in Gimi Ward, Makarfi Local Government Area (LGA).
He said operatives of Makarfi Division, supported by local vigilantes, swiftly mobilised to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel.
According to him, the operatives eventually overpowered the attackers with superior firepower, forcing them to flee into the bush.
He said one of the suspects, Usman Alhaji Dahiru, 20, a native of the area, was wounded and subsequently arrested.
Hassan said the police recovered one locally made rifle with three live cartridges, one locally made pistol with one live round and a bag containing charms from the suspect.
He added that efforts had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The PPRO further said that on Sept. 21, at about 10 p.m., the command received credible intelligence that one Jude Magaji of Ungwan Asibiti was in possession of a locally fabricated pistol.
He said Magaji was allegedly moving around the community, intimidating residents with the firearm and with the intention of committing an offence.
“Operatives of the Gwantu Division immediately swung into action, tracked the suspect and arrested him. The firearm was also recovered from his possession,” he said.
Hassan said the suspect remained in police custody while investigation was ongoing to establish how he came into possession of the firearm and determine whether it had been used to commit any criminal activity.
He said that on Sept. 22, at about 5 p.m., the command also received credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected syndicate involved in the illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition around Giwa LGA and the railway station axis of Kaduna.
According to him, detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit commenced surveillance and successfully tracked and arrested two suspects.
He said a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of 270 live rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 30 live rounds of Type 06 ammunition, bringing the total to 300 rounds.
“The suspects are currently in police custody, while further investigation is ongoing to establish the source and intended destination of the ammunition, as well as identify other persons connected to the syndicate,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu commended the police operatives and vigilantes for their prompt response and bravery.
Rabiu assured residents of the state that the command would sustain its operations against criminal elements and directed that efforts be intensified to apprehend all fleeing suspects.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to the police to support the fight against crime.