The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 29 suspects and recovered firearms, stolen vehicles and illicit drugs during a series of coordinated operations conducted over the past two weeks as part of efforts to combat violent crimes across the state.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, said the successes were recorded through intelligence-driven policing, collaboration with sister security agencies and information supplied by residents.

He disclosed that those arrested include 12 suspected kidnappers, 13 persons linked to murder cases and four suspected vehicle thieves, while four stolen vehicles were also recovered during the operations.

One of the major breakthroughs, according to the commissioner, followed an operation on June 5 in which police operatives tracked a group of suspected bandits to a forest hideout in Sagamu, Ogun State after receiving intelligence on the movement of illegal arms.

The six suspects arrested in the operation were identified as Bukar Bulama, Abubakar Mohammad, Mohammad Usman, Ibrahim Sani, Aliyu Usman and Dan Bello Umaru. Officers recovered two AK-47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a locally fabricated pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition and four cartridges from the hideout.

Rabiu said the suspects had been brought back to Kaduna to face further investigation and prosecution.

In another operation, detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Zaria apprehended Yahya Alhaji Yusuf on May 28 over allegations bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and banditry.

Police said the suspect admitted to abducting two people along the Buruku axis and collecting a ransom of N6 million, while an AK-47 rifle was allegedly recovered during his arrest.

The command also announced the arrest of Usama Tijjani, who is accused of using false identities to lure women to hotels before stealing their mobile phones and jewellery.

Investigators said the suspect confessed to defrauding more than 200 women, leading to the recovery of 20 mobile phones and gold jewellery estimated to be worth over N30 million.

Meanwhile, a joint security team led by CSP Sani Ibrahim Zuntu arrested 13 suspects during a raid on Katuga Unguwar Ruwa Village in Kagarko Local Government Area on June 11 over the deaths of Isiyaka Bijimi and Mercy Danladi.

Police linked the incident to accusations of witchcraft that reportedly sparked violence within the community. Among those arrested are Comfort Emmanuel, Ayuba Jatau and Daniel Enoch, alongside 10 others.

The command also recorded a breakthrough against drug trafficking after arresting Jamilu Ahmed and Mubarak Ibrahim in Zaria with 2,700 sachets of Tramadol. The suspects reportedly admitted distributing the drugs within the metropolis.

In its efforts to curb vehicle theft, police arrested Shamsudeen Usman for allegedly stealing a Golf III Station Wagon in Makera, Kakuri, with the vehicle later recovered along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Three other suspects; Shehu Muhammed, Abubakar Musa and Adamu Manu were also arrested while allegedly trying to dispose of a stolen Toyota Corolla LE in Kaduna.

In a related development, operatives recovered a Hyundai Sonata stolen at Murtala Mohammed Square after the suspected thieves abandoned the vehicle while escaping from security personnel.

The police commissioner described the operations as evidence of the command’s determination to sustain pressure on criminal elements operating in the state.