00:00Men of the Nigeria Police Force have hunted against some suspected kidnappers terrorizing Nigeria with self-made guns,
00:07with the police confirming on Tuesday that its men with local hunters and vigilante members in Taraba and Kaduna states
00:14made numbers of arrests and discovered some of the suspected kidnappers are in the business of fabricating and locally constructing AK-47 guns for criminal activities.
00:24A news release made available by the force public relations officer, Olumiwa Adajabi,
00:30indicated that among the suspected criminals arrested included three gunrunners who were found in possession of fabricated locally made AK-47 riffles.
00:40In details, the news release reads thus,
00:43The Nigeria Police Force has again achieved significant breakthroughs in combating violent crimes with the arrest of suspected kidnappers and gunrunners and recovery of arms across several states.
00:54These successful operations, which were propelled by credible intelligence,
00:59demonstrate the commitment of the force to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.
01:05On April 25, 2025, operatives of the FID Special Tactical Squad, STS,
01:11in collaboration with operatives of the Taraba State Police Command,
01:16local hunters and vigilante group arrested four suspected kidnappers in Mararaba Naber,
01:20La Local Government Area, while they were planning an operation.
01:25The suspects, identified as Shehu Ibrahim,
01:28Abdullahi Haruna,
01:30Yusuf Bello,
01:31and Muhammad Bako,
01:33were found in possession of two AK-49 rifles,
01:36one AK-47 rifle,
01:38six magazines,
01:39and 45 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
01:44Prior to this arrest,
01:45the operatives had earlier received intelligence on a group of kidnapping gang terrorizing Taraba,
01:52Hadamawa,
01:52Gombe,
01:53Plato,
01:54Bauchi,
01:55and Kaduna states.
01:57A successful raid conducted at the hideout of this gang led to the arrest of five suspected kidnappers.
02:03These suspects,
02:05identified as Suleiman Muhammad,
02:07Tijani Bello,
02:08Muhammad Umar,
02:09Adamu Ibrahim,
02:11Solomon Nathaniel,
02:12Haruna Adamu were also found in possession of three AK-47 rifles,
02:17one AK-49 rifle,
02:19and four AK-47 magazines.
02:22In a similar development on April 17, 2025,
02:26acting on intelligence,
02:28police operatives attached to Kaduna state command,
02:31apprehended one Issa Ibrahim,
02:33a suspected kidnapper,
02:34who confessed to relocating to Kaduna to establish a new gang after his accomplices were arrested in Kwara state.
02:41Equally on the same date,
02:43operatives of the Kaduna state command mobilized a patrol team to the Mido village,
02:48Leray local government area,
02:50where two suspected kidnappers,
02:52Sani Laman and Matala Magagi,
02:54were apprehended and both suspects confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities in the area.
03:00Additionally,
03:00on April 18, 2025,
03:03police operatives of the state,
03:05acting on received information about the activities of suspected gunrunners,
03:10arrested two suspects identified as Bajo Baden and Magagi Abdullahi,
03:15who were found in possession of two fabricated AK-47 rifles and later arrested one Ishiya Kuali,
03:22along the Karupambagua road of the state in possession of two locally fabricated rifles and a long chain concealed in a sack.
03:29The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
03:34The Inspector General of Police,
03:37IGP Ka-Yode Adeolu Egbetokan,
03:40commends the efforts of these gallant operatives and assures members of the public that the force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
03:49He further urges the public to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information of happenings in their environment.
03:56The police statements end in quotes as signed and made available by ACP Olumaiwa Adejabi on Tuesday.
04:04In a related development,
04:05ACP Olumaiwa Adejabi had reported that the police operatives rescued 10 kidnapped victims in Katsina state,
04:13recovered arms carted away before
04:15By criminals during ambush from men of the Nigeria Police Force and arrested some persons the police described them as notorious criminal suspects.
04:25The Nigeria Police Force continues to demonstrate its commitment to improved internal security through a series of successful operations resulting in significant rescue of kidnapped victims,
04:36arrests and recoveries of illegal arms.
04:38These achievements highlight the NPF's dedication to proactively tackling crime and ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.
04:48On the 19th of April, 2025, at about 9.35pm,
04:54acting upon information,
04:56operatives of the Faskari Division of the Katsina State Police Command successfully foiled a kidnap attempt along the Fentua-Gusau Highway.
05:03They engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, causing them to escape with bullet wounds.
05:10As a result of the swift response,
05:1210 victims, including 2 drivers and 8 passengers,
05:16were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.
05:19In another development,
05:21on April 18, 2025,
05:23at about 11am,
05:25operatives attached to the State Intelligence Department,
05:28SID,
05:29Taraba State,
05:29in collaboration with local vigilante,
05:32successfully apprehended Umar Ahmad,
05:3540,
05:35at a roadblock in Jalingo.
05:38Ahmad,
05:39a notorious criminal wanted by the police for several months.
05:43Following interrogation,
05:44Ahmad led operatives to Mayo Farhan Village in Mayo Belwa local government area,
05:50a border town between Taraba and Adamawa states.
05:52A comprehensive search of the area led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles,
05:59eight magazines,
06:00and 39 rounds of live ammunition.
06:03Further investigation revealed that one of the recovered guns belongs to the Taraba State Police Command
06:09which was earlier carted away during an ambush in 2023,
06:13when,
06:14kidnappers attacked a team of the anti-kidnapping squad,
06:17resulting in the death of one Aspaminu Nuhu.
06:20Continuing in their streak of successes,
06:22on April 17,
06:242025,
06:26at about 1.30 p.m.,
06:28vigilant police officers attached to Fege Divisional Headquarters,
06:32Anamra State,
06:33while on patrol along Port Harcourt Road,
06:35Upper Aweka,
06:37Anitsha,
06:37intercepted a shuttle bus parked suspiciously along the road
06:41and upon conducting a thorough search of the bus,
06:44five pump action guns,
06:45eight live cartridges,
06:47and two handcuffs were found concealed in a bag of rice.
06:51The recovered bus has been subjected to forensic examination,
06:55while effort is being intensified to locate the culprits.
06:58In a related development at about 1.27 p.m. on the same day,
07:03operatives of the Rapid Response Squad,
07:05anti-kidnapping unit,
07:07Anamra State Command acting on credible intelligence,
07:10arrested 25-year-old Israel Akachuku at his residence on the Zegwe Street Inc. Por,
07:16Idemili North local government area.
07:18A search conducted at his apartment led to the recovery.
07:22Two pump action guns,
07:24two live cartridges,
07:25a cutlass,
07:26a yellow axe,
07:27and a dagger.
07:29The suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings' confraternity
07:32and is cooperating with the police to identify and arrest other members of the gang.
07:37The Inspector General of Police,
07:40IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokan,
07:43commends the offices for their professionalism and prompt response,
07:47which has led to these remarkable successes.
07:50The IGP further reiterates the commitment of the force
07:53to protecting the lives and property of citizens.
07:56These recent successes demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing
08:01and the dedication of NPF officers in combating crime across the nation.
08:06The NPF urges the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies
08:11by providing timely information that can aid in preventing crime
