Nigeria Police arrest 13 kidnappers, recover, Israeli pump action rifle, other dangerous weapons

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have carried out multiple operations, resulting in the arrest of at least 13 suspected kidnappers and recovery of dangerous weapons.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this on Monday, during a press conference in Abuja.

He explained that on March 11, 2025, operatives from the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, were on a special assignment en route to Edo State when they encountered an ambush by armed kidnappers at Oshara Ganden, a boundary area between Kogi and Edo States.

According to the Force PRO, the operatives overpowered the criminal elements, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with 29 rounds of live ammunition.

He said one new Israeli pump action rifle with 4 cartridges, two pump action rifles with 72 cartridges, a single barrel shotgun with 2 cartridges, and two operational motorcycles were also recovered from the suspects.

Also, in a separate operation on January 27, 2025, IRT operatives acted on credible intelligence, and arrested one Yakubu Musa and Usman Musa both from Kaduna State.

Adejobi said the suspects were linked to a series of kidnappings and cattle rustling activities in the Soba and Ikara regions of the State.

According to him, during their arrest, three AK-47 rifles and 19 rounds of live ammunition were recovered by the operatives.

Additionally, on January 21, 2025, three suspects, Abubakar Lawan Isiaku Abdullahi and Abbas Maisaude were apprehended for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and kidnapping.

Adejobi said the suspects confessed to participating in multiple kidnapping incidents across Rijana, Lambata, Dandume, and Ugama in Kaduna and Niger States.

“Recovered from them were one AK-49 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, and 28 rounds of live ammunition.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of their gang”, he added.