Men of the Nigeria Police Force have hunted against some suspected kidnappers terrorizing Nigeria with self made guns, with the police confirming on Tuesday that its men with local hunters and vigilante members in Taraba and Kaduna states made numbers of arrests and discovered some of the suspected kidnappers are in the business of fabricating and locally constructing AK-47 guns for criminal activities.

A news release made available by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, indicated that among the suspected criminals arrested included 3 gun-runners who were found in possession of fabricated locally made AK-47 riffles .

In details, the news release reads thus; “the Nigeria Police Force has again achieved significant breakthroughs in combating violent crimes with the arrest of suspected kidnappers and gun runners and recovery of arms across several states.

These successful operations, which were propelled by credible intelligence, demonstrate the commitment of the Force to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.

On April 25, 2025, operatives of the FID Special Tactical Squad (STS) in collaboration with operatives of the Taraba State Police command, local hunters and vigilante group arrested four suspected kidnappers in Mararaban Abbare, Lau Local Government Area, while they were planning an operation.

The suspects, identified as Shehu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Haruna, Yusuf Bello, and Mohammed Bako, were found in possession of 2 AK-49 rifles, 1 AK-47 rifle, six magazines, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

Prior to this arrest, the operatives had earlier received intelligence on a group of kidnapping gang terrorizing Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States.

A successful raid conducted at the hideout of this gang led to the arrest of five suspected kidnappers.

These suspects, identified as Sulaiman Mohammed, Tijjani Bello, Muhammed Umar, Adamu Ibrahim,Solomon Nathaniel, Haruna Adamu were also found in possession of 3 AK-47 rifles, 1 AK-49 rifle, and 4 AK-47 magazines.

In a similar development on April 17, 2025, acting on intelligence, Police Operatives attached to Kaduna State Command, apprehended one Isa Ibrahim, a suspected kidnapper, who confessed to relocating to Kaduna to establish a new gang after his accomplices were arrested in Kwara State.

Equally on the same date, operatives of the Kaduna State Command mobilized a patrol team to Lamido village, Lere Local Government Area, where two suspected kidnappers, Sani Liman and Murtala Magaji, were apprehended and both suspects confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities in the area.

Additionally, on April 18, 2025, police operatives of the state, acting on received information about the activities of suspected gun runners, arrested 2 suspects identified as Bajo Badun and Magaji Abdullahi, who were found in possession of two fabricated AK-47 rifles and later arrested one Ishiyaku Ali, along the Kauru-Pambegua Road of the state in possession of two locally-fabricated rifles and a long chain concealed in a sack.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends the efforts of these gallant operatives and assures members of the public that the Force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

He further urges the public to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information of happenings in their environment”, the police statements end in quotes as signed and made available by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Tuesday.

In a related development, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi had reported that the police operatives rescued 10 kidnapped victims in Katsina State, recovered arms carted away before by criminals during ambush from men of the Nigeria Police Force and arrested some persons the police described them as notorious criminal suspects.

“The Nigeria Police Force continues to demonstrate its commitment to improved internal security through a series of successful operations resulting in significant rescue of kidnap victims, arrests and recoveries of illegal arms.

These achievements highlight the NPF’s dedication to proactively tackling crime and ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.

On the 19th of April, 2025, at about 9:35pm, acting upon information, operatives of the Faskari Division of the Katsina State Police Command successfully foiled a kidnap attempt along the Funtua-Gusau highway.

They engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, causing them to escape with bullet wounds. As a result of the swift response, ten victims, including two drivers and eight passengers, were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.

In another development, on April 18, 2025, at about 11:00am, operatives attached to the State Intelligence Department (SID), Taraba State, in collaboration with local vigilante, successfully apprehended Umar Ahmad, 40, at a roadblock in Jalingo.

Ahmad, a notorious criminal wanted by the police for several months. Following interrogation, Ahmad led operatives to Mayo Faran Village in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area, a border town between Taraba and Adamawa states.

A comprehensive search of the area led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and thirty-nine rounds of live ammunition.

Further investigation revealed that one of the recovered guns belongs to the Taraba State Police Command which was earlier carted away during an ambush in 2023, (when) kidnappers attacked a team of the Anti-Kidnapping squad, resulting in the death of one ASP Aminu Nuhu.

Continuing in their streak of successes, on April 17, 2025, at about 1:30pm, vigilant police officers attached to Fegge Divisional Headquarters, Anambra State, while on patrol along Port Harcourt Road, Upper Iweka, Onitsha, intercepted a shuttle bus parked suspiciously along the road and upon conducting a thorough search of the bus, five pump-action guns, eight live cartridges, and two handcuffs were found concealed in a bag of rice.

The recovered bus has been subjected to forensic examination, while effort is being intensified to locate the culprits.

In a related development at about 1:27pm on the same day, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad/Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anambra state command acting on credible intelligence, arrested 25-year-old Israel Akachukwu at his residence on Ezeigwe Street Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area.

A search conducted at his apartment led to the recovery; two pump-action guns, two live cartridges, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger.

The suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and is cooperating with the police to identify and arrest other members of the gang.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends the officers for their professionalism and prompt response, which has led to these remarkable successes.

The IGP further reiterates the commitment of the Force to protecting the lives and property of citizens.

These recent successes demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the dedication of NPF officers in combating crime across the nation.

The NPF urges the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by providing timely information that can aid in preventing crime and ensuring public safety”, said ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday.