The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended 22 individuals suspected of being involved in kidnapping and illegal arms dealing, following intensified intelligence-driven operations across several states.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the arrests reflect the Police Force’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians.
Adejobi revealed that on April 25, 2025, operatives from the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (STS), working alongside personnel from the Taraba State Police Command, local hunters, and vigilantes, intercepted four suspects in Mararaban Abbare, Lau Local Government Area, as they were reportedly planning a kidnap operation.
The suspects — Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Haruna, Yusuf Bello, and Mohammed Bako — were caught with a cache of weapons, including two AK-49 rifles, an AK-47 rifle, six magazines, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Prior intelligence reports had indicated the existence of a notorious gang responsible for several abductions across Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna states.
A follow-up operation at one of the gang’s hideouts led to the arrest of five more suspects: Sulaiman Mohammed, Tijjani Bello, Muhammed Umar, Adamu Ibrahim, and Solomon Nathaniel.
Recovered from them were additional rifles and four magazines.
In another operation on April 17, 2025, officers from the Kaduna State Police Command apprehended one Isa Ibrahim, a suspected kidnapper, who reportedly admitted to relocating to Kaduna to regroup and form a new gang after his former associates were arrested in Kwara State.
That same day, two more suspects — Sani Liman and Murtala Magaji — were captured in Lamido village, Lere LGA, and allegedly confessed to being involved in kidnapping activities in the area.
A separate crackdown on gunrunning led to the arrest of two individuals, Bajo Badun and Magaji Abdullahi, on April 18, 2025. They were reportedly found with two fabricated AK-47 rifles. Later, another suspect, Ishiyaku Ali, was arrested along the Kauru-Pambegua Road with two homemade rifles and a long metal chain hidden inside a sack.
The police said all suspects will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers for their dedication and assured Nigerians that the Force remains committed to tackling insecurity across the country.