Police arrest 13 kidnappers, recover rifles, ammunition, others

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have carried out multiple diligent operations to enhancing internal security and combat criminal activities across the nation.

In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on March 11, 2025, at approximately 6:30 pm, operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) were on a special assignment en route to Edo State when they encountered an ambush set by armed kidnappers at Oshara Ganden, a boundary area between Kogi and Edo States.

He said the operatives demonstrated exceptional tactical skills to overpower the armed assailants, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals.

Adejobi identified the suspects as Tukur Salisu, Sani Abubakar, Mamud Sani, Umar Abdullahi, Salisu Mohammed, Salisu Usman, Bashir Audu, and Jibril Haruna.

He said they were found in possession of significant weaponry, including one AK-47 rifle with 29 rounds of live ammunition, one new Israeli pump action rifle with four cartridges, two pump action rifles with 72 cartridges, a single barrel shotgun with two cartridges, and two operational motorcycles.

He said in a separate operation on January 27, 2025, IRT operatives acted on credible intelligence to arrest Yakubu Musa (30) and Usman Musa (25) both from Kaduna State.

“These suspects were linked to series of kidnappings and cattle rustling activities in the Soba and Ikara regions of the State. During their arrest, three AK-47 rifles and 19 rounds of live ammunition were recovered, further substantiating their involvement in criminal activities,” he said.

Adejobi also revealed that on January 21, 2025, three suspects—Abubakar Lawan (24), Isiaku Abdullahi (35), and Abbas Maisaude (26), were apprehended for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and kidnapping.

He said the suspects confessed to participating in multiple kidnapping incidents across Rijana, Lambata, Dandume, and Ugama in Kaduna and Niger States.

He said the operatives recovered one AK-49 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, and 28 rounds of live ammunition from the suspects, adding that efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of their gang.