Kaduna Police Foil Kidnapping Attempt, Arrest Four Suspects and Recover 300 Rounds of Ammunition

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have foiled an alleged kidnapping attempt in Makarfi Local Government Area, arresting four suspects in separate operations across the state.

The command said three locally made firearms and 300 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the operations, which targeted suspected kidnappers, an alleged gunman and an arms-trafficking syndicate.

According to the police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, the first incident occurred in the early hours of September 20 when suspected armed bandits attacked a resident in Gimi Ward, Makarfi Local Government Area.

Police operatives from the Makarfi Division, supported by local vigilantes, responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers in a gun battle. The suspected bandits reportedly fled into the bush, while a 20-year-old suspect was wounded and arrested.

The police said officers recovered a locally made rifle containing three live cartridges, a locally made pistol with one live round and a bag containing charms from the suspect.

In a separate operation in Gwantu, police arrested another suspect accused of carrying a locally fabricated pistol and allegedly intimidating residents. The command said the suspect was tracked and arrested on September 21, with the firearm recovered from him.

The third operation focused on a suspected arms-trafficking syndicate operating around Giwa Local Government Area and the Kaduna railway station axis. Acting on intelligence, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out surveillance and arrested two suspects, recovering 270 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 30 rounds of Type 06 ammunition.

Police said the four suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to determine the source and intended destination of the ammunition and identify other people who may be connected to the suspected syndicate. Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu commended the officers and local vigilantes involved and directed that operations be intensified to apprehend fleeing suspects.