The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rescued 11 kidnapped victims and arrested two suspected kidnappers while recovering a substantial cache of illegal firearms and ammunition.

These operations, conducted in collaboration with sister security agencies, took place in Katsina and Delta States.

The Spokesperson of the NPF, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a statement.

On Sunday, a joint task force (JTF) comprising police operatives and other security personnel thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Danmusa–Mara Dangeza village road in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The team, engaged in routine patrol duties, encountered a group of armed bandits attempting to flee with their captives. A fierce gun battle ensued, during which the security forces overpowered the criminals, forcing them to retreat with gunshot injuries. All 11 victims were rescued unharmed and are currently receiving necessary support.

In a similar operation, police operatives from the CP-Special Assignment Team in Delta State, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 30-year-old Abubakar Hassan, a key figure in a cross-state kidnapping syndicate operating across Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Enugu States.

Adejobi revealed that Hassan confessed to leading multiple kidnapping operations along the Ughelli-Ozoro axis during interrogation.

He guided authorities to a hideout in a forest in Ozoro, where police recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, and 32 rounds of live ammunition. This arrest is linked to the earlier apprehension of three other members of the same gang, signaling a major blow to the syndicate’s operations.

Police operatives from the Safer Highway Patrol also intercepted a vehicle during a routine stop-and-search along Ughelli Road. A thorough search led to the arrest of 38-year-old Obi Ezekiel and the recovery of a locally fabricated revolver, a pump-action single-barrel rifle, along with 15 rounds of live cartridges.