The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a suspected gun runner and recovered two AK-49 rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, magazines and suspected hard drugs in a series of operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Kaduna, where he highlighted several breakthroughs recorded by the command in its ongoing operations against banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, vehicle theft and other criminal activities.
According to the police commissioner, the suspected gun runner, identified as 39-year-old Kenneth, a native of Delta State, was arrested on August 25 at Yan’Karfe Motor Park in Sabon Gari, Zaria.
He said police operatives responded to a distress call after the suspect was seen behaving suspiciously while struggling with a sack said to contain potatoes.
A search of the sack led to the recovery of two AK-49 rifles, 228 rounds of ammunition described as RPG ammunition, 275 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, five AK-47 magazines and quantities of suspected hard drugs.
Muhammad said the case was under investigation, commending the swift response of the Divisional Police Officer and his team.
In another operation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department arrested three suspected members of an armed bandit gang along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Muhammad, alias Alti; Usman Tukur, alias Mallam; and Hassan Alhaji Salisu, alias Tagwaye, were arrested following credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected kidnapping syndicate.
Police said the suspects allegedly confessed to being members of an armed bandit gang operating around Millennium City and other parts of Kaduna State.
The command also reported the arrest of a suspect, Gideon Martins, in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, following intelligence on his suspicious movements.
A search allegedly led to the recovery of a locally made double-barrel gun, handcuffs, live ammunition and cartridges, a Point-of-Sale machine, drilling equipment and security uniforms.
In a separate development, police operatives intercepted a motorcyclist along the Kachia Road with 134 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition concealed in a sack.
The suspect allegedly confessed that he had been sent by a wanted armed bandit, identified by police as Yellow Mai-million, to collect and transport the ammunition.
The command also recovered 11 sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis along the Zaria-Kano Expressway after occupants of an unregistered Volkswagen Golf Station Wagon allegedly fled on sighting police operatives.
The police said efforts had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, three suspects were arrested in connection with a series of armed robbery and sexual assault cases in communities around Rafin Tukurwa, Zaria.
The suspects were identified as Jamilu Yau, alias Jagwa; Abdullahi Hamisu, alias Maikudi Santsi; and Sani Abubakar, alias Gaye.
Police said two of the suspects allegedly confessed to the offences and claimed they used a “grave stick” charm allegedly supplied by the third suspect.
The command said the suspects were linked to multiple attacks in Gidan Kira, Magata and Gidan Maranta villages, where victims were allegedly robbed at knifepoint and sexually assaulted.
In Kajuru Local Government Area, police arrested a 27-year-old man, Barnabas Amale, who was allegedly found with a pistol after an attempted phone theft in Idon-Gida.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended by members of the community after he allegedly threatened his pursuers with the firearm.
Police said further investigation identified another suspect, Victor Patrick, who allegedly passed the firearm to Amale after receiving it from another person currently at large.
The command also announced the recovery of a Toyota Hilux belonging to the Kaduna State Water Board, which had reportedly been stolen from Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna.
The vehicle was intercepted in Kano State following intelligence and tracking operations, while the suspected criminals allegedly abandoned it and escaped into the bush.
Similarly, two suspects were arrested in connection with an armed robbery and vandalism incident at the Infectious Disease Centre in Mando, Kaduna.
Police alleged that the suspects and other members of their gang, who remain at large, scaled the facility’s perimeter fence, tied up five security guards and vandalised a transformer belonging to the centre.
CP Muhammad condemned attacks on critical public infrastructure, describing them as serious sabotage against public health and safety.
He said the command would sustain intelligence-led policing, targeted operations and collaboration with other security agencies and members of the public to deny criminals the freedom to operate in Kaduna State.
The commissioner also appealed to residents to remain vigilant, protect government facilities within their communities and provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
He expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Kaduna State Government for their support to the command’s operations.
The commissioner said investigations were continuing into several of the cases, while suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
