•Suspected criminals
The Police on Friday in Rijani, Kaduna State paraded 15 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers said to be in possession of fire arms.
The Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood told newsmen that the first group of the suspects comprised six persons who were said to have killed a lawyer, Mr Sheriiff Yazid and kidnapped his wife along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
He said that the woman, who was released by the hoodlums after collecting a ransom, identified them.
He said that items recovered from the suspects included one AK 47 rifle, a motorcycle used for carrying their victims, cutlasses, sticks and charms.
The Force spokesman said the second group of nine suspects was arrested on October 25 by the Special Intelligence Response Team after reportedly carrying out several operations.
Moshood said items recovered from them included one AK 47 rifle, a pump action gun, a Toyota Hummer bus used for the operation, pairs of military uniform, 20 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and cutlasses.
He said the suspects confessed to several kidnap and armed robberies along the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway.
“Investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation,” he said.
According to the spokesman, kidnappers in that axis had adopted a new strategy by moving from Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi to Kaduna to carry out their nefarious acts.
Moshood said that the security operatives had also adopted new strategies which had resulted in the arrest of the suspects.
He said that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris had directed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police in zones and commands to beef up security in their areas.
“The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts will be sustained throughout the country,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the force had on July 25 commenced ‘Operation Absolute Sanity’ on the highway to check the incessant cases of kidnap and armed robbery.
The operation complements the one now jointly carried out by the Police and the military.
On July 31, the Police arrested 31 suspects at Katari and 40 others on August 3 at Rijana, both located along that highway.
NAN
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