The operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested seven suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition in the Lere Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Muhammad Jalige, disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, April 20.

Jalige attributed the feat to the command’s renewed vigour toward ensuring safety of lives and property in Kaduna State.

He said: “Owing to the recent marching order handed down by the acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Mamman Giwa, to Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to go on the offensive, personnel of the command have recorded positive result with the arrest of seven kidnap suspects.

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“At about 1320hrs, a patrol team attached to Saminaka Area Command, in conjunction with hunters group in Lere Local Government Area, apprehended one suspect with six others at Mariri Village in the same area.”

The police spokesperson stated that the suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to have carried out series of kidnappings, culpable homicide, and armed robberies in the area.

Jalige noted that an AK 47 rifle with 14 rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition, one locally fabricated long range double-barrel gun used for expending 12-guage live cartridges and one locally made pistol that uses 9mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspected kidnappers.

“Preliminary investigation is ongoing and efforts have been intensified to recover more arms and ammunition,” he added.

The police spokesman said the area had become generally calm and peaceful, while rigorous patrols and surveillance continued.

Jalige, who quoted the police commissioner as commending the officers for the arrest and recoveries made, warned that any person with the thought to commit any form of crime should have a rethink or risk being neutralised or arrested by the “well-motivated operatives of the command”.

He, therefore, enjoined all law-abiding citizens in Kaduna State to go about their lawful businesses.

He assured the people that the command has made heavy deployment of its personnel to all the nooks and crannies of the state ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The Star