The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, and illegal arms manufacturing during a series of operations carried out across the state. The police also shut down a local gun factory and recovered several weapons and stolen vehicles.
DSP Mansir Hassan, spokesperson for the command, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Sunday. He credited the success to reliable intelligence and swift action from various police teams.
Among those arrested is Nura Auwal, accused of stabbing and trying to kill a commercial motorcyclist, Ismail Bello, during a robbery on June 30. The incident occurred when the suspect posed as a passenger, then attacked Bello and fled with his motorcycle. The stolen bike was quickly recovered by officers from the Kawo Division.
Two more suspects, Sanusi Bala from Zamfara and Nura Bala from Zaria, were picked up on June 19 along Kano Road while trying to rob a tricycle rider. They later admitted to being part of a group that specializes in stealing and selling tricycles. Their confession led to the recovery of three stolen cars: a dark blue Golf III Wagon with registration number ABC-152-AL, a green Golf III Wagon with ABJ-900-RE, and an unregistered dark blue Golf III Wagon. Police are now searching for other gang members, including a man identified as Jamilu Zurmi from Zamfara, said to be a regular buyer of the stolen vehicles.
On July 4, five suspected armed robbers — Ahmed Umar, Isah Musa, Zailani Sa’adu, Abdulrahman Mukhtar, and Ibrahim Bala — were arrested after they allegedly broke into a house in Ungwan Sanusi and stole a Toyota Corolla and other valuables. Investigators later discovered the stolen car was being moved to Maradi, Niger Republic, where it was meant to be delivered to a well-known receiver of stolen cars, Alhaji Garba Yaro, who is currently on the run.
Another set of arrests took place on July 7, when anti-kidnapping officers captured three men — Rabilu Lawal, Sirajo Shuaibu, and Shehu Sarki — in Nasarawan Doya Village in Makarfi Local Government Area. They were caught with two locally made guns and two live cartridges. Police believe they were involved in the recent abduction of a local woman.
The most recent breakthrough happened on July 11, when officers from Makarfi Division raided a suspected illegal gun factory in Giroji, also in Makarfi LGA. Four people — Hassan Ibrahim, Murtala Yakubu, Shuaibu Abubakar, and Ismail Shuaibu — were arrested. Items recovered from the site included three handmade rifles, three incomplete rifle parts, fourteen cartridges, five live rounds of T.06 ammunition, and several metalworking tools such as filing and welding machines.
All suspects remain in custody and are helping with further investigations.
Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, praised the officers for their commitment and encouraged Kaduna residents to report suspicious activities. He assured the public that the Command remains focused on breaking down criminal networks across the state.
