Following a series of coordinated raids by police officers and local vigilance groups between October 3 and 5, 2025, targeting kidnapping gangs operating in Anchau, Ikara and Makarfi Local Government Areas, the Kaduna State Police Command said its personnel arrested 26 suspected kidnappers, recovered four manufactured firearms, several dangerous weapons and part of a ransom allegedly paid to kidnappers in different operations across the state.
DSP Mansir Hassan, Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna Police Command, said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Kaduna Vigilance Service, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the state of banditry and kidnappings.
According to the statement, the first breakthrough occurred on October 5, when patrol teams from the Anchau Division, acting on credible intelligence, raided the suspected kidnappers’ hideout at around 1:15 am and arrested six suspects, including 21-year-old Jibrin Abubakar alias Oga.
According to the statement, “The investigation revealed that the suspects had conspired on September 22, 2025 to kidnap Idris Adamu, 60, whom they held captive for several days before releasing him after collecting a ransom of £5 million.”
During the operation, two other suspects, identified as Yunusa Iliya (31) and Malam Iliya (55), both from Gidan Sidi village in Anchau district, were arrested after a brief shooting duel with police officers. Two others managed to escape and are currently being pursued by agents.
Items recovered from the suspects include two locally made pump rifles, five empty cartridges, some amulets and a cash sum of £546,000, believed to be part of the ransom paid by the victim’s family.
In a separate operation on October 3, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command arrested Habibu Alhaji Ahmadu, popularly known as Munyaye, in Ikara Local Government Area.
The suspect, who was found in possession of two locally made revolver rifles, confessed to having planned an earlier armed attack on the residence of a local businessman in the area.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that Ahmadu is a member of a notorious gang terrorizing Ikara and its environs. He operates alongside his accomplices, identified as Buhari and Shede, who are currently at large,” the police spokesperson added.
He said efforts are underway to locate the fleeing accomplices and recover more weapons related to the gang’s operations.
Another major development came on October 4, when officers acting on intelligence provided by a recently freed kidnapping victim raided the hideouts of suspected kidnappers in Gazara village in Makarfi Local Government Area.
During the raid, 14 suspects were arrested, including Bello Umar, who had earlier been charged in court with kidnapping. Police also recovered several machetes and other dangerous weapons from the scene.
Hassan said three more suspects were later detained at the toll plaza in connection with the same criminal network.
“All suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to uncover their wider network, recover further evidence and arrest other accomplices who are still at large,” the Command spokesperson said.
Police Commissioner CP Rabiu Muhammad was quoted as praising the officers for their professionalism and resilience, describing the operation as “another significant step” in the state’s war against kidnapping and violent crime.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring that Kaduna remains an unsafe place for criminals, saying: “We will continue to intensify intelligence-led operations, strengthen collaboration with local communities and ensure that all perpetrators of violence face the full weight of the law.”
Muhammad also called on residents to continue sharing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing security efforts across the state.