By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A suspected member of a notorious kidnapping gang, Sule Muhammad, has been arrested by the police in Kaduna. Muhammad, 25, is alleged to have been involved in the abduction of a district head on August 14, 2024.
The Kaduna State Police Command, in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, ASP Mansir Hassan, disclosed that the suspect was apprehended with a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 58 blocks of Arizona (a type of cannabis), and 33 bags of cannabis.
“On December 25, 2024, at about 20:00 hours, acting on credible intelligence, officers from the Saminaka Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), successfully apprehended one Sule Muhammad, a resident of Kargi Village in Lere Local Government Area,” the statement read.
The police revealed that preliminary investigations identified Muhammad as an active participant in multiple kidnapping incidents in the Saminaka area.
“The suspect confessed to being a member of a notorious kidnapping gang responsible for the abduction of a district head on August 14, 2024. While the victim was released on August 16, 2024, five members of the gang were arrested at the time. Sule Muhammad evaded capture and has been on the run until his arrest on Christmas Day,” the statement added.
In a separate operation, officers from the Makarfi Division intercepted three abandoned vehicles suspected to contain illegal substances along the Kano-Zaria Expressway on December 26, 2024.
The recovered vehicles included:
1. A grey-colored Golf car
2. A dark blue Golf car
3. A red Ford minibus
“During a thorough search, officers discovered 58 blocks of Arizona and 33 bags of cannabis within the vehicles,” the statement revealed.
The items and vehicles were secured, and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the illicit operation.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police commended the officers for their swift action and reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and related crimes in the state.
