The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects, including eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants, during security operations in Millennium City and Maraban Rido communities in Chikun Local Government Area.
The command also recovered AK-47 rifles during the operations, which involved other security agencies as part of efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry in the affected communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, disclosed the arrests in a statement, saying they followed targeted raids, clearance operations and intensified patrols across the areas.
The police expressed concern over the activities of suspected informants allegedly providing kidnappers with intelligence on security movements and operations.
According to the command, preliminary investigations indicated that two of the suspects allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal groups.
The police said such activities undermined security efforts and endangered the lives of security personnel and residents.
The command added that investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement, identify other accomplices and bring those linked to the crimes to justice.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has released three additional Armoured Personnel Carriers to the police to strengthen security operations in Millennium City and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, has also ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles and other security resources to the affected areas.
The deployment is intended to improve surveillance, response time and crime prevention as security agencies intensify efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry in the state.