By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered two AK-49 rifles, 228 rounds of RPG ammunition and 275 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Kaduna, saying the arrest followed a distress call from Yan’Karfe Motor Park in Sabon Gari, Zaria.
According to him, the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Kenneth, a native of Delta State, was arrested on August 25 after he was spotted behaving suspiciously while struggling with a sack containing potatoes.
He said operatives of the Sabon Gari Division responded swiftly and, upon searching the sack, recovered two AK-49 rifles, 228 rounds of RPG ammunition, 275 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, five AK-47 magazines, and some quantities of suspected hard drugs.
“The case is presently under investigation,” the CP said, commending the Divisional Police Officer and his team for their swift response.
In a related development, the command said three suspected members of an armed banditry and kidnapping syndicate were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
The suspects, arrested on August 24 following credible intelligence, were identified as Ibrahim Muhammad, 25, alias “Alti”, from Adamawa State; Usman Tukur, 27, alias “Mallam”, from Zamfara State; and Hassan Alhaji Salisu, 23, alias “Tagwaye”, from Doka Village, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The suspects allegedly confessed during interrogation to being members of an armed bandit gang operating around Millennium City and other parts of Kaduna State.
The CP said the suspects would be charged to court after the investigation concluded.
Similarly, police operatives recovered 134 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition during a stop-and-search operation along Kachia Road, Kaduna, on August 25.
Muhammad said the ammunition was concealed in a sack carried by a motorcyclist, who allegedly confessed that he had been sent by a notorious armed bandit known as “Yellow Mai-Million” to collect and deliver the consignment.
The Commissioner also disclosed the arrest of three suspected armed robbers and rapists following a joint operation by the police, Ahmadu Bello University security personnel and the Civilian Joint Task Force in communities around Rafin Tukurwa, Zaria.
The suspects were identified as Jamilu Yau, alias “Jagwa”, 20; Abdullahi Hamisu, alias “Maikudi Santsi”, 25; and Sani Abubakar, alias “Gaye”, 20.
According to the CP, the suspects were arrested following complaints and distress calls from residents of Rafin Tukurwa Village, behind ABU Zaria.
He said two of the suspects allegedly confessed to the crimes and disclosed that they used a “grave stick” as a charm, allegedly supplied by Abdullahi Hamisu.
The suspects were also linked to attacks in Gidan Kira, Magata and Gidan Maranta villages, where victims were allegedly robbed at knifepoint and sexually assaulted.
Muhammad appealed to other victims and members of the affected communities to come forward with useful information to assist the ongoing investigation.
The command also reported the arrest of a 27-year-old suspected phone thief, Barnabas Amale, who allegedly brandished a pistol after stealing a Tecno mobile phone from a farmer in Idon-Gida, Kajuru Local Government Area.
Further investigation reportedly led to the identification of another suspect, Victor Patrick, 37, who allegedly obtained the firearm from a man identified as Oyou Movel, who is currently at large.
The police commissioner said detectives also recovered a Toyota Hilux belonging to the Kaduna State Water Board, which was allegedly stolen from Gobarau Road, Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna.
He said the vehicle was tracked to Kano State, where the suspected criminal syndicate abandoned it and escaped into the bush following a hot chase by police operatives.
In another operation, two suspects, Abdullahi Abubakar and Shehu Sani, both from Makera in Kajuru Local Government Area, were arrested over the alleged armed robbery and vandalization of critical infrastructure at the Infectious Disease Centre, Mando, Kaduna.
The suspects allegedly conspired with other members of their gang, who are still at large, scaled the facility’s perimeter fence, tied up five security guards and vandalized the centre’s transformer.
The CP described attacks on critical public infrastructure as “serious sabotage” that can threaten public health and safety.
He said the command had intensified patrols and raids on suspected criminal hideouts and black spots across the Kaduna metropolis, adding that several dangerous weapons and other exhibits had been recovered.
Muhammad also disclosed the recovery of 11 sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis along the Zaria-Kano Expressway.
He said the sacks were abandoned by suspected traffickers who fled after police operatives approached their unregistered Volkswagen Golf Station Wagon while they were loading the items.
The Commissioner said the command would continue to intensify intelligence gathering, community engagement and targeted operations against banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, vehicle theft and other forms of criminality.
He appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police, stressing that community cooperation remained critical to crime prevention.
Muhammad commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for their support to the command.
He also appealed to the judiciary to allow the police to continue parading suspects, particularly those arrested in the act or from whom incriminating exhibits had been recovered, arguing that doing so would help sensitise the public and strengthen crime prevention.
The Commissioner assured residents that the command would not relent until fleeing suspects were arrested and brought to justice.
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