The Niger State Police Command has arrested 71 suspects for various crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, fraud and drug-related offences, during a series of security operations carried out across the state in July.

The command also recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 magazines and 330 rounds of live ammunition, alongside several other exhibits linked to criminal activities.

Addressing journalists in Minna, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, said the successes were achieved through intelligence-driven operations, targeted raids on criminal hideouts, strategic deployment of tactical teams and increased cooperation from members of the public.

According to him, one of the most significant breakthroughs recorded during the period was the dismantling of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in parts of Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The operation, he said, stemmed from investigations into a series of abductions reported in Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and communities along the Kaduna Road corridor.

CP Elleman disclosed that the alleged kingpin of the gang, Samaila Ilya, popularly known as “Maikujuri,” was arrested on July 10 near Kpakungu Roundabout in Minna after previously escaping during a gun duel with police operatives in Bwari.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to coordinating several kidnapping operations in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari, including an incident in which a victim was reportedly killed despite the payment of ransom.

The police commissioner said information provided by the suspect led operatives to hidden arms dumps, resulting in the recovery of additional AK-47 rifles concealed in a forest in Gauraka and another cache in Bwari. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.

He further revealed that five other suspected members of the gang were arrested during a rescue operation in Gauraka, while three kidnapped victims were freed unharmed.

In a separate operation, police operatives intercepted a suspect, Zubairu Mohammed, in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area, allegedly conveying five AK-47 magazines and 185 rounds of live ammunition concealed inside a bag of cement.

Investigators believe the ammunition was intended for delivery to another suspect identified simply as Ado, who is currently being tracked by security operatives.

The command also uncovered an alleged identity document forgery syndicate with the arrest of 42-year-old Mohammed Aliyu Buba in Munya and Wushishi local government areas.

Police said a search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of 105 fake National Identification Number (NIN) cards and 189 fake Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

According to CP Elleman, the suspect admitted producing forged identity documents for over 1,000 people, charging N2,000 for each fake NIN card and N1,000 for each fake PVC, with proceeds estimated at more than N3 million.

The command also recorded arrests in connection with an armed robbery attack near Kakaki village in the Bangi axis, while several suspects linked to violent clashes in parts of the state were taken into custody and are assisting investigators.

Beyond the arrests, the police rescued nine children and an abducted infant during the period under review.

Recovered items included 17 goats, four cows, three motorcycles and two vehicles suspected to be linked to criminal activities.

Other exhibits recovered by the command were three cartons of tramadol, two bags of cannabis, 16 cutlasses, three locally fabricated plastic pistols, Point of Sale (POS) machines, ATM cards, mobile phones, face masks, assorted clothing and cash exceeding N352,000.

CP Elleman reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and improving security across the state.

He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and property. (Channels News)