A notorious kidnapper identified as Sule Muhammad has been arrested by police operatives in Kaduna State.
Muhammad’s arrest was confirmed in a statement released on Friday by the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hassan.
Hassan disclosed in the statement that officers also smashed a kidnapping syndicate that has been terrorizing residents of the state for some time.
During the operation, the police also recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 58 blocks of Arizona, and 33 bags of suspected cannabis from the suspects, Naija News reports.
According to the statement, Muhammad was arrested on Christmas Day by officers from the Saminaka Division.
It added that the suspect has since confessed to being a member of a notorious kidnapping gang responsible for the abduction of a district head on August 14, 2024.
Also the police recovered three vehicles abandoned along the Kano-Zaria Expressway, which were loaded with illegal substances.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police commended the officers involved in the operation for their swift response and assured the public of the Command’s commitment to eradicating the menace of kidnapping and drug trafficking in the state.
Meanwhile, troops of the 1 Brigade, under the Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have successfully neutralised several terrorists, including a notorious kingpin, Alhaji Ma’oli, in Zamfara State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abdullahi.
According to the statement, the operation was conducted on December 26 in Maisheka village, near Kunchin Kalgo town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The statement reads, “The area is one of the local communities that had suffered under Ma’oli’s reign of terror.
“Ma’oli is renowned for always imposing illegal levies on residents of Unguwan Rogo, Mai Sheka, Magazawa, and other surrounding areas of Bilbis in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
“The naturalization of Ma’oli has brought relief and excitement to locals in Bilbis general area.
“The operation was initiated in response to intelligence report of terrorists on motorcycles operating in Bilbis axis of Bilbis District, Tsafe LGA.
“Swift response by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma not only thwarted the terrorists’ plan to attack the locals but also reinforced the commitment to securing the area from further acts of violence.
“The operation Fansan Yamma remains resolute in its mandate to pursue and neutralise all remaining terrorists and their collaborators across the Joint Task Force Theatre of Operation.
“The Joint Task Force will also continue to work diligently alongside local communities towards achieving lasting peace and security in Zamfara and beyond.”