The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested several suspects and recovered firearms, two stolen vehicles and suspected counterfeit US dollar notes during separate operations across the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Hassan, the operations followed intelligence gathered by the command and resulted in major breakthroughs in different parts of the state.
In Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area, police operatives, supported by members of the Kaduna Vigilance Service, engaged suspected bandits reportedly terrorising farmers in the area.
The suspects allegedly opened fire on the security team but retreated into the bush after operatives responded. They reportedly abandoned a pump-action rifle, two cartridges and a motorcycle.
At the Maraban Jos axis, police also mounted roadblocks following intelligence about the movement of suspected gunrunners.
The suspects reportedly escaped into the bush, abandoning nine locally fabricated firearms, while police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend them.
Meanwhile, three suspects — Ashiru Ibrahim, Mohammed Ibrahim and Umar Hassan — were arrested at Panteka, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna, while allegedly attempting to sell a stolen black GMK Jeep.
The vehicle, estimated at ₦70 million, was allegedly being offered for ₦4 million after it had reportedly been prepared for dismantling and sale as spare parts.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that Ashiru allegedly stole the vehicle from Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he worked as a driver for a Chinese company.
In another operation, operatives recovered a white Toyota Hilux allegedly stolen from Agadez, Niger Republic, and arrested Abubakar Abdullahi, who was reportedly found in possession of the vehicle.
The command said verification of the vehicle’s chassis number confirmed that it matched the details of the vehicle reported stolen in Niger Republic.
Separately, police arrested Kabir Yusuf of Barnawa, Kaduna, over alleged possession of counterfeit currency.
A search reportedly uncovered 332 suspected counterfeit $100 notes valued at $33,200, alongside six suspected counterfeit ₦1,000 notes.
The suspect allegedly told investigators that he obtained the suspected counterfeit currencies from one Sahibu Ruhan of Kano State, who remains at large.
The Kaduna Police Command said efforts were ongoing to arrest Ruhan and identify other individuals allegedly involved in the suspected counterfeit currency network.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state and urged residents to continue providing security agencies with credible information.
