The Kaduna State police command says it has arrested 30 suspected kidnappers and four gunrunners and recovered five firearms with live ammunition during operations carried out across the state in April.

The commissioner of police, Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing on the command’s achievements for the month.

He said the command also arrested six suspected car thieves and recovered four stolen vehicles within the period under review.

According to him, the successes were recorded through sustained intelligence-led policing, proactive patrols, and coordinated tactical operations against criminal elements.

Mr Muhammad said among the recovered weapons were an anti-riot gun and other locally fabricated firearms.

He said on April 16, operatives of the Anti-Car Theft Unit, acting on intelligence, engaged suspected bandits along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway near the toll gate.

The commissioner said the suspects fled into a nearby bush with gunshot wounds, abandoning one AK-47 rifle and eight rounds of live ammunition.

He added that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Mr Muhammad also said police rescued a seven-year-old kidnapped child, following a report by his father, Abdullahi Idris, of Anchau in the Kubau Local Government Area.

He said the victim was abducted while returning from school, and the kidnappers demanded N40 million ransom.

According to him, swift action by the divisional police officer in Anchau led to the rescue of the child in Maigana, Soba Local Government Area, while a suspect was later arrested in Malumfashi, Katsina State.

He said the suspect had confessed and was assisting the police investigation.

The commissioner further said detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department arrested a suspect in possession of a suspected stolen Toyota Corolla, while another suspected stolen Hyundai vehicle was also recovered.

He said further investigation led to the arrest of an accomplice in Kano State.

Mr Muhammad said police operatives also arrested one suspect at Kurmin Zaki in possession of a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle.

He said a patrol team from Kawo Division also recovered an anti-riot long-range gun, two short-range shells and one long-range shell abandoned by a fleeing suspect near Kawo Flyover.

The commissioner said in another operation, a surveillance team from the Zaria Area Command arrested one suspect with 44 wraps of suspected cannabis.

He said the suspect was in custody while the investigation continued.

Mr Muhammad said police also tracked and recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla in Katsina State after it was allegedly stolen from a mechanic workshop in Zaria.

He said a suspect was found in possession of the vehicle and was being investigated.

The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of lives and property across Kaduna State.

He appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Olutunji Disu, the Kaduna State government, and the residents for their support and cooperation.

Mr Muhammad urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies. 

(NAN)