The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants, as security agencies intensify operations against kidnapping in Millennium City and Maraban Rido.
The command said the arrests followed clearance operations, targeted raids and patrols conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement, adding that AK-47 rifles were recovered during the operations.
The eight suspected kidnappers were identified as Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.
The four alleged informants are Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew.
According to Hassan, preliminary investigations indicated that two of the alleged informants confessed to leaking information about police movements and operations to criminal groups.
The command said such activities undermined security efforts and exposed police personnel and residents to danger.
It added that investigations were continuing to establish the suspects’ alleged roles, identify other accomplices and prosecute those found culpable.
As part of efforts to strengthen security in the affected communities, the Kaduna State Government has also released three additional armoured personnel carriers to the police.
The command said the vehicles would improve operational capacity and support security operations along vulnerable corridors.
The latest measures followed a stakeholders’ meeting held on October 10, led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Sani Kila, and attended by heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents of Millennium City and neighbouring areas.
At the meeting, Kila urged residents to support security agencies by promptly reporting individuals suspected of aiding criminal activities.
He also emphasised the responsibility of community leaders, landlords and youth groups in preventing criminals from operating within their communities.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu, ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical teams, operational vehicles and other security assets to improve surveillance and response times.
Rabiu noted that Millennium City’s location near forested areas on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis presented security challenges requiring sustained surveillance and targeted operations.
He urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, and to report suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
The command assured residents that clearance operations would continue to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt kidnapping activities and facilitate the rescue of abducted victims.
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