By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
In Kaduna, bandits have shifted their approach, now threatening residents over the phone to pay ransoms or face abduction from their homes.
One resident, Shafiu Abdullahi, reported to Operation Fushin Kada that he had been receiving threatening phone calls demanding ₦10 million. The callers warned they would kidnap him if the ransom was not paid, marking a new tactic in the bandits’ operations.
A statement from the Kaduna State Police Command, signed by ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed these developments. The statement detailed recent police actions, including a successful raid on August 22, 2024, targeting a hideout used by a notorious cattle rustling syndicate in Kasuwa Magani, Kujama.
During the operation, police apprehended two suspects, Aminu Saleh (25) and Jafar Ibrahim (24). Both confessed to their roles in cattle rustling and identified four other members of the syndicate who remain at large.
The statement also noted that, on the same day, Shafiu Abdullahi reported the ransom threat. The Tracking and Response Team utilized advanced techniques to trace and arrest suspects Umar Baso, Shehu Filani, and Babangida Abdulkarim from Soba and Kajuru LGAs. The suspects provided detailed confessions about their criminal activities.
On August 24, 2024, police arrested two individuals, Dahiru Liman (47) of Garin Kurama Village, Lere LGA, and Sani Abdullahi Makeri (45) of Kankara LGA, Katsina State, for supplying arms to kidnappers in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States. Police recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition from them. The suspects admitted their involvement in these crimes and other illegal activities.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Ali Dabigi, urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. He reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
