The Kaduna State Police Command says it has arrested 24 suspected kidnappers and recovered 21 firearms, more than 500 rounds of ammunition and other items during a series of security operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Muhammad Rabiu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the command’s operational achievements for the month under review.
Rabiu said the arrests and recoveries followed intelligence-led policing, surveillance, rapid response operations, proactive patrols and collaboration between police operatives, other security agencies and community-based security structures.
Among the items recovered during the various operations were locally made rifles and pistols, AK-47 magazines, more than 500 rounds of live ammunition, 38 live cartridges and a bag containing charms.
One of the major recoveries was recorded in Kudan Local Government Area, where operatives of Operation Fushin Kada arrested a 45-year-old man identified as Abdullahi Ibrahim on September 24, 2026.
According to the police, Ibrahim, a resident of Kauyere Gangara in Makarfi Local Government Area, was intercepted during a routine patrol around Maraban Kanja.
Police said a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of two locally made AK-47 rifles, nine locally made long guns and 10 locally made pistols.
Operatives also recovered two AK-47 magazines, 50 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and 38 live cartridges.
The command said Ibrahim told investigators that he obtained the weapons and ammunition from two individuals identified as Saidu Magari and Mallam Ado.
Both men were said to be at large, while police operatives continued efforts to locate and arrest them.
In another operation, the command recovered three rifles from a vehicle intercepted at Dogarawa in Zaria.
Police said the weapons were suspected to be connected with criminal activities including banditry and cattle rustling.
The operation followed intelligence received on September 22 concerning the alleged activities of one Lawal Umar of Kidandan Village in Giwa Local Government Area.
Following the information, operatives of the Vehicle Crime Response Unit in Zaria reportedly placed the suspect under surveillance.
Police subsequently intercepted a vehicle allegedly being used to transport firearms from Nguru in Yobe State.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one Type-06 rifle and one LAR rifle.
The three weapons were recovered with empty magazines.
The command said Lawal Umar, identified as the principal suspect in the investigation, remained at large.
Police said efforts were underway to arrest him and identify other individuals who may have been involved in the alleged movement of the weapons.
In a separate operation, two men were arrested over suspected trafficking of ammunition.
The suspects were identified by police as Rayyanu Adamu and Nasiru Abubakar.
According to the command, intelligence received on September 22 indicated suspected illegal trafficking of arms and ammunition around Giwa Local Government Area and the railway station axis of Kaduna State.
Detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department subsequently began surveillance and tracked the suspects.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and another 30 rounds of Type-06 ammunition.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish where the ammunition originated, its intended destination and whether other members of an alleged trafficking network were involved.
Another operation was recorded in Gimi Ward of Makarfi Local Government Area following an attack on a resident.
The command said the attack occurred at about 1:15 a.m. on September 20.
Police operatives from the Makarfi Division, supported by local vigilantes, responded to the incident and reportedly encountered the attackers.
According to police, the security team engaged the suspected bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to flee into the surrounding bush.
One suspect, identified as 20-year-old Usman Alhaji Dahiru, was reportedly wounded during the confrontation and subsequently arrested.
Police said a locally made rifle, three live cartridges, one locally made pistol, one live round of ammunition and a bag containing charms were recovered from the suspect.
The command said efforts were continuing to locate other members of the group who escaped during the confrontation.
Apart from the operations involving firearms and ammunition, Kaduna police also announced the recovery of a Hyundai Elantra reportedly stolen from Kwara State.
According to the command, information was received on September 28 that two men were at New Panteka attempting to produce a new key for the vehicle.
Operatives from the Kurmin Mashi Division were deployed to the location.
Two suspects identified as Hamza Yushau and Abdullahi Abdullahi were arrested during the operation.
Police said the suspects told investigators that they purchased the vehicle from one Abdulkadir Yahaya of Zaria.
The command further alleged that the two suspects knew that the vehicle had been stolen from Kwara State.
Yahaya was said to be at large.
The Hyundai Elantra was recovered and taken into police custody as an exhibit while investigators continued efforts to locate the alleged seller and establish the circumstances surrounding the theft and movement of the vehicle.
The different operations form part of security measures being implemented by the Kaduna State Police Command against kidnapping, banditry, illegal arms trafficking, vehicle theft and other crimes across the state.
CP Rabiu said the command would continue intelligence gathering, surveillance, patrols and cooperation with other security agencies and community security groups.
He also called on residents to provide credible and timely information about suspicious activities within their communities through established police communication channels.
The commissioner assured residents that information provided to the police would be handled confidentially.
He commended police personnel, local vigilante groups and communities for their cooperation with the command’s security operations.
The suspects remain accused persons while police investigations continue. The allegations against them will be subject to the appropriate judicial process where charges are filed.
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