The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits and recovered five firearms with live ammunition in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.

According to a statement issued by the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, the arrests followed credible intelligence received by the Command on January 28, 2020, indicating that five individuals were in possession of prohibited firearms.

He explained that acting on the information, detectives from the Anti–Car Theft Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) swiftly carried out an operation that led to the arrest of Yusuf Aliyu Yusuf, Ahmed Umar, Abdullahi Muhammad, Ahmad Jazuli, and Muktar Bashir.

During the operation, police recovered one English-made AK-47 rifle with two fully loaded magazines, two English Beretta pistols with a fully loaded magazine, and one locally fabricated Beretta pistol containing seven rounds of live ammunition.

According to the statement, the suspects are currently in police custody while investigations continue to uncover other criminal networks linked to them.

In a related development, the Command also said it recorded another success on January 29, 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected bandits within Zaria metropolis.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Zaria City Division, leading a team of 47 Police Mobile Force (PMF) operatives on stop-and-search duties, intercepted and arrested two suspects identified as Adamu Lawal and Abdulhadi Lawal, both from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The suspects were found in possession of one locally fabricated firearm.

Police said the suspects are cooperating with investigators, providing information that may lead to the arrest of other accomplices currently at large.

Commending the officers involved, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, praised their professionalism and swift response to intelligence reports.

He reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for banditry and other forms of criminality, warning that Kaduna State will remain hostile to criminal elements.

The Command assured residents of its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations to ensure the safety and security of lives and property across the state. (Channels TV)