The Kaduna State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against illegal arms trafficking with the arrest of a suspected gunrunner in Sabon Gari Local Government Area. The suspect, identified as Kenneth, a 39-year-old from Delta State, was taken into custody on August 25 after police received a distress call from Yan’Karfe Motor Park.

During a routine patrol, officers noticed Kenneth behaving suspiciously while struggling with a sack. Upon investigation, they discovered the sack contained two AK-49 rifles, 228 rounds of RPG ammunition, 275 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and five AK-47 magazines. The police also found quantities of suspected hard drugs in his possession. Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad confirmed the arrest and praised the swift action of the Sabon Gari Division operatives.

In a related operation, the police apprehended three suspected members of an armed banditry and kidnapping syndicate along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. The suspects, Ibrahim Muhammad, Usman Tukur, and Hassan Alhaji Salisu, were arrested on August 24 after intelligence reports led police to their location. They reportedly confessed to being part of a gang involved in various criminal activities in Kaduna State.

Further investigations revealed that during a stop-and-search operation on August 25, police recovered 134 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition concealed in a sack carried by a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist claimed he was sent by a notorious bandit known as Yellow Mai-Million to deliver the ammunition.

In addition to these arrests, police operations have led to the capture of three individuals accused of armed robbery and sexual assault in communities around Rafin Tukurwa, Zaria. The suspects, identified as Jamilu Yau, Abdullahi Hamisu, and Sani Abubakar, were arrested following complaints from local residents. Two of the suspects allegedly confessed to using a charm known as a “grave stick” to commit their crimes.

The police also reported the arrest of a suspected phone thief, Barnabas Amale, who was found with a pistol after stealing a mobile phone from a farmer. His accomplice, Victor Patrick, is currently at large, having allegedly supplied the firearm used in the crime.

In another incident, police arrested two suspects, Abdullahi Abubakar and Shehu Sani, for their involvement in the robbery and vandalization of critical infrastructure at the Infectious Disease Centre in Mando, Kaduna. The suspects allegedly tied up security guards and damaged the facility’s transformer.

Commissioner Muhammad emphasized the importance of community cooperation in crime prevention, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. He also acknowledged the support of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, in the fight against crime. The police command has vowed to continue its operations against banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality, assuring the public of their commitment to safety and security in the state.