KADUNA — The Kaduna State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities, arresting no fewer than 30 suspected kidnappers and four gunrunners within the month of April 2026.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna, noting that the Command also recovered five firearms, including an anti-riot gun, alongside several rounds of live ammunition.
He said the successes were achieved through sustained intelligence-led policing, proactive patrols, and coordinated tactical operations aimed at curbing kidnapping, armed robbery, gunrunning, and other violent crimes across the state.
According to him, six suspected car thieves were also arrested within the period under review, while four stolen vehicles were successfully recovered from criminal elements operating within and outside Kaduna State.
Highlighting key operations, the police boss said operatives of the Anti-Car Theft Unit, acting on credible intelligence, engaged suspected bandits along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway on April 16, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds.
He said the suspects abandoned an AK-47 rifle and eight rounds of live ammunition at the scene, adding that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing criminals.
In another development, CP Muhammad revealed that a seven-year-old boy kidnapped in Anchau, Kubau Local Government Area, was successfully rescued following swift police intervention.
He explained that the victim was abducted while returning from school, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of N40 million, but was later rescued in Maigana, Soba LGA, while a suspect linked to the crime was arrested in Katsina State.
The Commissioner further disclosed that police detectives arrested a suspect in Zaria found in possession of stolen vehicles, leading to the recovery of additional cars and the arrest of an accomplice in Kano State.
He also said operatives arrested a 45-year-old man in Kurmin Zaki with a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, while another suspect fled and abandoned an anti-riot gun and ammunition near Kawo Flyover.
In a related operation, a surveillance team in Zaria arrested a suspect found with 44 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, with investigations ongoing to uncover possible links to drug trafficking networks.
Similarly, police tracked and recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla in Katsina State shortly after it was reported missing in Zaria, arresting a suspect in connection with the theft.
CP Muhammad also announced the arrest of three members of a notorious car theft syndicate in the Mando area, where a suspected stolen vehicle was recovered during the operation.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its operational tempo, strengthening community collaboration, and ensuring that all criminal elements are brought to justice while maintaining peace and security across Kaduna State.
