The police command in Kaduna said its operatives have nabbed three suspected child traffickers and a bandit’s drug supplier.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Hassan said, “On Monday, at about 4:00 pm,  Police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a suspected bandits’ drugs supplier, identified as Franklin Ozo, of Danmagaji, Zaria.”

According to him, the suspect was arrested by a surveillance team from Maraban Jos Division in possession of large quantities of Exol tablets, worth millions of naira. 

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the illicit drugs were ordered and heading to Kidandan and Giwa, where they were intended for consumption by bandits.

“The suspect is currently in custody while further investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Mr Hassan also disclosed that on September 22, at about 4:30 p.m., police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a suspected notorious child trafficker, one Khadija Ibrahim, around the Narayi area of Kaduna.

He said she was found in possession of a child later identified as Abdulmumin (surname unknown).

“Further investigations resulted in the arrest of two other suspects: Daniel Samuel of Narayi and Danjuma Makoshi. Their arrest subsequently led to the rescue of another victim, one Ibrahim Bilyaminu, a five-year-old male from Gusau, Zamfara.

“The rescued children are safe and currently under police protection, while a discreet investigation is ongoing to uncover the full network of the trafficking syndicate and ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.

The spokesperson said that on Monday, following credible intelligence received from a reliable source, a suspect was sighted in possession of illegal firearms within Doka Ilu village in Giwa LGA. He said a team of detectives from the anti-kidnapping unit swiftly mobilised to the location and successfully apprehended the suspect, identified as Alhaji Sani, popularly known as ‘Dan Gude’.

He said exhibits recovered from the suspect included one fabricated AK-47 rifle, two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and one AK-47 magazine. He said a discreet investigation was ongoing to ascertain the source of the firearm and to arrest other possible accomplices.

Mr Hassan said on Tuesday, at about 8:45 p.m., based on the sustained community policing strategy, recovered 60 cattle and 25 sheep that were earlier rustled.

According to him, this was the result of a non-kinetic approach employed by the police commissioner in the state, Rabiu Muhammad.

He said the livestock were successfully handed over to the rightful owner. He said that Muhammad had reiterated the command’s determination to combat drug trafficking, arms proliferation, and their dangerous effects on violent crimes in the state.

He further warned all criminal elements involved in child trafficking and related crimes to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

(NAN)