Armed security operatives in Kaduna have apprehended a suspected gunrunner with arms and ammunition, while they also arrested a kidnapping syndicate group in the State.

The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, Rabiu Muhammad, at a press conference on Thursday, said that the Police Command, in its effort to rid the State of crime, has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of a suspected Gun Runner and the recovery of a cache of Arms, Ammunition, and other exhibits in Sabon Gari, Zaria.

According to him, “on 25th August, 2026, at about 2100hrs, the Command received a distress call from Yan’Karfe Motor Park, Sabon Gari Zaria, Kaduna that one Kenneth, a native of Delta State, was seen behaving suspiciously while struggling with a sack containing potatoes”, pointing out that “operatives from Sabon Gari Zaria Division, Kaduna swiftly responded and rushed to the scene”.

He said that “upon thorough search of the sack, the following items were 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. I therefore commended the swift response of the Divisional Police Officer and his Team and further reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons and movements to the Police”, he added.

In the same vein, he explained that “on 24th August, 2026, at about 1500hrs, at Audu Jangwam, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, following a credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected kidnapping syndicate, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, State CID, Kaduna arrested three suspected members of Armed Bandits Gang”.

He gave the names of the arrested suspects as Ibrahim Muhammad alias (“ALTI”), from Adamawa State, Usman Tukur alias (“MALLAM”, from Zamfara State, and Hassan Alhaji Salisu alias (“TAGWAYE”), from Doka Village, Gusau LGA, Zamfara State.

Mohammad remarked, “During interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to being members of an armed bandit gang, operating in part of a suburb of Millennium City, Kaduna, and other general areas of the State. Investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”

He continued, “On 22nd July, 2026, at about 1500hrs, following a credible intelligence on the suspicious movement of one Gideon Martins of No. 32 Jay-Jay Street, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, the operatives of anti-kidnaping unit, SCID, Kaduna while on surveillance patrols in the area, arrested the suspect and upon search, he was found in possession of firearms, military accoutrements and other exhibit items”.

” Further investigation led to the recovery of the following exhibits: one double-barrelled locally made gun, one handcuff, one live 9mm Ammunition and two live Cartridges, one POS machine, one drilling machine and other security uniforms”, he added.

The suspect, he said, “is currently in custody and investigation is ongoing. He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, stressed, “in our sustained efforts to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminality, especially within the Metropolitan area of Kaduna State, the Task Force and Metropolitan Area Command has beefed-up its routine patrols and constant raids on suspected black spots and criminal hideouts, with a view to nipping in the bud their criminal activities, as well as denying them the freedom of movement.”