Police Foil Kidnapping Attempt, Arrest Four Suspects in Kaduna

The command said three locally made firearms and 300 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during separate operations.

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have foiled a kidnapping attempt in Makarfi Local Government Area of the state.

Four suspects were arrested during separate operations, while three locally made firearms and 300 rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

In a statement, the spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the first incident occurred in the early hours of September 20, when suspected armed bandits attacked a resident in Gimi Ward, Makarfi Local Government Area.

He said police operatives from the Makarfi Division, supported by local vigilantes, responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers in a gun duel.

The police said the suspected bandits eventually fled into the bush, while one of the suspects, a 20-year-old, was wounded and arrested.

Police said a locally made rifle with three live cartridges, a locally made pistol with one live round and a bag containing charms were recovered from the suspect.

In a separate operation in Gwantu, police arrested a suspect, who was allegedly carrying a locally fabricated pistol and intimidating residents.

The command said the suspect was tracked and arrested on September 21, with the firearm recovered from his possession.

The third operation targeted a suspected arms-trafficking syndicate operating around Giwa Local Government Area and the railway station axis of Kaduna.

Following credible intelligence, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit conducted surveillance and arrested two suspects.

Police said the operation led to the recovery of 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 30 rounds of Type 06 ammunition, bringing the total to 300 rounds of live ammunition.

According to the command, the suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations continue to establish the source and intended destination of the ammunition and identify other persons linked to the suspected syndicate.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, commended the operatives and local vigilantes for their prompt response and bravery.

He directed that operations be intensified to arrest fleeing suspects and urged residents to provide credible information to the police.