The police command in Kaduna state says it has detained 11 suspected kidnappers in its custody and recovered weapons in their possession.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement in Kaduna on Thursday.

Mr Hassan recalled that a district head was kidnapped on Aug 14 and released on Aug.16.

He said, “On Sept. 2, at about 0500hrs, police operatives of Saminaka in collaboration with a team of local hunters group while acting on credible intelligence, carried out raids in three different villages in Lere Local Government Area.

“The villages are Maraban Wasa, Gurzan Hakimi Mariri, and Abugan Kurama.

“Five suspects were arrested in related to the kidnapped of the district head.”

The command’s spokesman said the five suspects included, Abdulhamid Abubakar a.k.a. Bala, Danjuma Luka a.k.a. Uba, Ayuba Simon, and Idi Saleh.

“The exhibits recovered from the suspects included one fabricated single-barrel gun, one green Golf car, one Bajaj motorcycle, and eight mobile phones.”

He added that “on Sept. 2 at about 2100hrs, the police operatives while acting on credible information about a suspicious movement of bandits, laid an ambush in a motor park.”

“At about 0510hrs the following morning, six suspects were arrested in connection to the incident.

“The suspects included, Lawal Murtala, Isa Kabiru, Auwal Surajo, Kamala Lawal, Umar Adamu and Kabiru Liman.”

He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included, four fabricated AK-47 rifles, two english pistols, two pump-action guns, 24 cartridges, 29 rounds of live ammunition of various calibers and large quantity of assorted charms.

He said others included one walkie-talkie, one axe, a cash sum of N908,600

In a related development, Mr Hassan said, “on Sept. 3, at about 2200hrs, the police operatives were informed that a suspected bandit was lodging in a hotel within the Tafa area of Kagarko Local Government, Kaduna state.”

He said in response, a patrol team was swiftly mobilised and dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the team arrested one Yahaya Yusuf, a 41-years-old male from Kabo Village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger state.

He added that during investigation, the suspect confessed his involvement in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger and Kaduna, adding that one Tecno cellphone was recovered from the suspect.

Mr Hassan said that the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna state command, urged the public to continue cooperating with the police as the command intensified its efforts to clamp down on criminals and their activities within the state.

(NAN)