The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday paraded 93 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers terrorizing Niger, Katsina and Kaduna States, especially Kaduna-Abuja highway.
It said 35; AK47 Rifles, 21 Dane Guns, 500 live ammunition and a host of other weapons including a Rocket launcher were recovered from the suspects.
Parading the suspects at Katari village along Kaduna-Abuja highway, the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the 93 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers were arrested within the past two weeks in joint operations in Kaduna, Niger and Katsina States.
According to Mba, 35 AK47 Rifles, 21 Dane Guns and more than 500 live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
The Force Spokesman attributed the successful arrests and seizures to Operation Puff Adder launched to clear criminals away from Kaduna-Abuja expressway and Nigeria at large.
DCP Mba who was flanked by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Aji Ali Janga said, the joint operations comprised policemen from operations, intelligence, technical, counter terrorism and special protection units among others.
He said that the operation was designed largely to tackle kidnapping, robbery and banditry giving Nigerians sleepless nights, adding that the successes recorded so far were huge.
According to him, “The suspects were arrested from Matari Forest, Niger axis and some were pursued to as far as Katsina.
“We are determined to descend very hard on criminals. We recovered 37 AK 47 rifles, 12 locally made guns, a revolver pistol, 60,000 fake US dollars, military uniforms and a foreign made pistol.
“Few days ago, the IG rolled out new counter kidnaping strategy, it would also help us curtail such criminality in Nigeria,” Mba said.
The Force spokesman reiterated that, the Office of the Inspector General of Police provided supervisory and supportive roles to the entire operations.
However, Kaduna Police Commissioner Janga in his own remarks assured farmers in Birnin Gwari and other volatile areas that it is now safe for them to return to their farms.
According to him, the new operations, being conducted in synergy with all the commanders of various units have achieved tremendous success.
“Farmers who farm along Kaduna-Abuja expressway, Birnin Gwari and other volatile areas can go back to their farms, it is now safe”, Janga said.
One of the suspects arrested Isah said, it was his first time of committing the crime, and that, he has never collected any ransom before his arrest.
Another suspect, Salisu Abubakar, who claimed to be a cleric, said he was aware that his clients belonged to criminal gangs, but that he only supported them with “goodluck charms.” but he has never participated in the crime.
