Police arrest kidnappers, spiritualist, notorious car thief in Kaduna
In a coordinated operation, Kaduna State Police have apprehended five suspected kidnappers, a spiritualist, and a notorious car thief, recovering a stolen Toyota Hilux and other criminal exhibits.
The arrests are part of the state police’s intensified efforts to dismantle kidnapping and criminal networks across the region.
ASP Mansir Hassan, the Kaduna State Police spokesperson, detailed the operation, stating that on November 5, 2024, at approximately 4:00 am, officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit conducted a targeted raid in Kundun Village. This operation led to the arrest of Umar Haruna, Shuaibu Umar, and Hairatu Muntari (also known as Talatu), all residents of Kundun Village. The primary target, suspected gang leader Umar Haruna, remains at large. Shuaibu Umar, according to initial investigations, was allegedly recruited to participate in a planned kidnapping operation.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted their involvement in several kidnappings, including plans to target a resident in Maraban Yakawada. They revealed that previous ransom money was used to buy bags of maize, which were recovered as evidence. Another suspect, Abubakar, who allegedly reared cattle for the gang, was also apprehended. Police recovered eight cows, seven calves, and eight sheep tied to the gang’s activities.
In a separate incident on October 31, 2024, a three-year-old girl from Agaji Village went missing. The following day, her father received a ransom demand for two million naira (N2,000,000) from an unknown caller. After the ransom was paid on November 2, the child was safely returned. Police investigations led to the arrest of Isa Sa’adu, 25, from Agaji Village, who later confessed to the kidnapping. Recovered from Sa’adu were a Gionee mobile phone, 400,000 naira in cash, a motorcycle, a bicycle, and a bag of rice, reportedly purchased with the ransom money. Another suspect, Mohammed Sani Usman, 35, identified as a spiritualist who allegedly provided Sa’adu with “spiritual support” for the crime, was also taken into custody.
In a separate case on November 8, 2024, police acting on intelligence led a raid in Tafa, Kaduna State, which resulted in the arrest of 50-year-old Rotimi Oyewale from Ejigbo, Lagos State. Police recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux, which Oyewale admitted to stealing from Ado Ekiti and was transporting to a buyer in Kaduna for 2.5 million naira. Oyewale further confessed to stealing three other vehicles, including a Toyota Camry and a green Toyota Corolla Sport, which were also delivered to the same buyer. Efforts are underway to track down and arrest the buyer, believed to be part of an extensive criminal network involved in the sale of stolen vehicles across Kaduna State and nearby regions.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Abdullahi, praised the officers involved for their dedication and affirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling kidnapping, banditry, and criminal networks throughout the state.
