Recover Arms, Ammunition from Suspected Bandit, Cultist
- Safiu Kehinde
Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have rescued 10 kidnapped victims in Katsina state, while recovering arms and ammunition from suspected bandit and cultist in separate operations across the country.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the statement, operatives of the Faskari Division of the Katsina State Police Command had on the 19th of April 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.
Ten victims, including two drivers and eight passengers, were rescued unhurt in the course of the operation and reunited with their families.
Prior to that, operatives attached to the State Intelligence Department (SID), Taraba State, in collaboration with local vigilante, successfully apprehended one 40-year-old Umar Ahmad at a roadblock in Jalingo.
Ahmad, who was claimed to be a notorious criminal wanted by the police for several months, led operatives to Mayo Faran Village in Mayo Belwa LGA, 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 gun belongs to the Taraba State Police Command which was earlier carted away during an ambush in 2023, where kidnappers attacked a team of the Anti-Kidnapping squad, resulting in the death of one ASP Aminu Nuhu.
On the 17th of April 2025, police officers attached to Fegge Divisional Headquarters, Anambra State, intercepted a shuttle bus parked suspiciously along Port Harcourt road, Upper Iweka, Onitsha.
Following 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 had since been subjected to forensic examination, while effort is being intensified to locate the culprits.
In a related development at about 1:27 PM 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 LGA.
The operatives’ search of his apartment led to the recovery two pump-action guns, two live cartridges, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger.
Following his arrest, 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.
Reacting to the successes recorded by the Force’s personnel, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the officers for their professionalism and prompt response.
The IGP reiterated the commitment of the Force to protecting the lives and property of citizens.
These recent successes, according to the Force spokesperson, demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the dedication of NPF officers in combating crime across the nation.
The Force, however , urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by providing timely information that can aid in preventing crime and ensuring public safety.