The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 12 suspected kidnappers and three gun-runners in coordinated operations across several states, resulting in the recovery of multiple firearms and ammunition.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were made following credible intelligence and joint efforts involving local vigilantes, hunters, and various police commands.
The statement noted that on April 25, 2025, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), in collaboration with the Taraba State Police Command, arrested four suspected kidnappers—Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Haruna, Yusuf Bello, and Mohammed Bako—in Mararaban Abbare, Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State, while they were allegedly planning a kidnap operation.
Recovered from the suspects were two AK-49 rifles, one AK-47 rifle, six magazines, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Prior to this arrest, the operatives had earlier received intelligence on a group of kidnapping gang terrorising Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States. A successful raid conducted at the hideout of this gang led to the arrest of five suspected kidnappers.
These suspects, identified as Sulaiman Mohammed, Tijjani Bello, Muhammed Umar, Adamu Ibrahim,Solomon Nathaniel, Haruna Adamu were also found in possession of 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 AK-49 rifle, and 4 AK-47 magazines,” the statement added.
In a related operation on April 17, police in Kaduna State arrested Isa Ibrahim, a suspected kidnapper who reportedly confessed to attempting to form a new gang after his previous accomplices were arrested in Kwara State.
The statement added that police operatives, on the same day, mobilised to Lamido village in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna and apprehended two more suspected kidnappers, Sani Liman and Murtala Magaji, who also confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities in the area.
Additionally, on April 18, 2025, police operatives of the state, acting on received information about the activities of suspected gun runners, arrested 2 suspects identified as Bajo Badun and Magaji Abdullahi, who were found in possession of two fabricated AK-47 rifles and later arrested one Ishiyaku Ali, along the Kauru-Pambegua Road of the state in possession of two locally-fabricated rifles and a long chain concealed in a sack,” the statement said.
All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement added.
Commending the operatives, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, assured the public of the Force’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
