The Kaduna State Police Command yesterday announced the arrest of 34 suspected criminals and the recovery of 486 livestock from cattle rustlers in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahaman, told reporters in Kaduna that the feat was a fallout of the recently launched ‘Operation Puff Adder’ by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and “the subsequent confidence building campaign the Command vigorously carried out under my supervision, particularly along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.”
The CP said the efforts recorded some successes with the arrest of 34 suspects belonging to different suspected criminal gangs who allegedly terrorised citizens of the state.”
He added that the command within the period under review recovered 486 livestock made up of 393 cows and 93 sheep from rustlers.
The CP said while nine of the suspects were arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery; 18 suspects for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery; six of the suspects were nabbed for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and cattle rustling.
Abdulrahman said that most of the suspects were between the ages 20 and 30.
The CP said among the suspects was Mohammed Jamilu, 30, who allegedly specialises in “defaming high profile personalities by putting his victims in fear of death or grievous hurt through false information that is capable of inciting disturbance to extort money from his victims.
“The suspect went round meeting clergymen and telling them that the executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai had contracted him to eliminate some notable clergymen in Kaduna State.
“The Police acted on intelligence and arrested the suspect and he has confessed to the allegation,” he said.
He said the operatives from the command’s intelligence unit recovered from the suspects three AK47 rifle with 27 round of live Ammunition, one locally made pistol and one Dane gun.
“Also recovered from him include a pair of army camouflage uniform, a navy blue-cloured Honda Civic vehicle with Reg. No. BL688GWA, Chassis No. JHMEJ933005017783 and two unregistered red coloured Bajaj motorcycles.
“Others are: a Samsung S8 plus, a Techno handset, one axe, four cutlasses, assorted charms, one pincher and a dog.”
He said the command would arraign the suspects in court once it concluded its in