By Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight suspected kidnappers and four suspected informants, and recovered AK-47 rifles in a crackdown on kidnappers terrorizing Millennium City and Maraban Rido.
This was contained in a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, ANIPR, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
The statement said that in response to recent security challenges in Millennium City and Maraban Rido, the Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, had intensified clearance operations, targeted raids, and patrols across the affected areas.
According to the release, the sustained operations resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, namely Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John, and Tafarki Audu.
The Command also arrested four suspected informants identified as Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses, and Amadu Mathew, while AK-47 rifles were recovered during the operations.
The statement expressed concern over the activities of individuals suspected of supplying kidnappers with intelligence about security movements and operations.
It disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that two of the suspects had allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements, thereby undermining security efforts and endangering the lives of security personnel and residents.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement, identify other accomplices, and bring to justice all those connected to the criminal activities.
The Command further disclosed that the state government, after due consideration and in a bid to address the security challenges in Millennium City and its suburbs, had released three additional Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the police command to strengthen its operational capacity and enhance security in the affected areas.
The statement assured residents that clearance operations targeting criminal hideouts would continue to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities, and facilitate the rescue of kidnapped victims.
It recalled that, recently, on October 10, 2026, a high-powered government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Malam Sani Kila, and other state security chiefs held an engagement meeting with traditional rulers, community members, and other stakeholders from the affected areas.
During the meeting, the Chief of Staff reiterated that security is a collective responsibility and urged residents, community leaders, landlords, and youth to report individuals suspected of aiding or abetting criminal activities promptly and to continue supporting security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and public safety.
Acknowledging that forested areas largely surround Millennium City and lie on the outskirts of the Kaduna metropolis, the Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
To further the Command’s commitment to strengthening security, the Commissioner of Police also ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles, and other security resources to the affected areas to intensify surveillance, improve response times, and prevent further criminal activities.
The statement quoted the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, CP Muhammad Rabiu, pPSC, mni, as calling on members of the public to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist in the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
