The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants, during security operations in Millennium City and Maraban Rido.
The command also recovered AK-47 rifles during the operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in the affected areas.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the arrests followed intensified clearance operations, targeted raids and patrols in response to recent security challenges in the areas.
He identified the suspected kidnappers as Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.
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The four suspected informants were identified as Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations indicated that two of the suspects allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements.
The command said the alleged disclosure of security movements and operations undermined efforts to combat crime and endangered the lives of security personnel and residents.
It added that investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement, identify other accomplices and prosecute those found culpable.
The statement disclosed that the Kaduna State Government had released three additional armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the police command to strengthen its operational capacity in Millennium City and surrounding communities.
It said clearance operations targeting criminal hideouts would continue to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities and facilitate the rescue of kidnapped victims.
The command also recalled that a government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to Governor Uba Sani, Malam Sani Kila, met traditional rulers, community members and other stakeholders in the affected areas on October 10.
At the meeting, Kila stressed the need for collective action to address insecurity and urged residents, community leaders, landlords and youth groups to promptly report individuals suspected of aiding criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station, noting that Millennium City was surrounded by forested areas on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.
The statement added that the commissioner had ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles and other security resources to the affected communities to strengthen surveillance, improve response times and prevent further crimes.
Rabiu appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to help tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kaduna State.
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