The police said 72 suspects were arrested across the country for kidnapping, murder, car theft, banditry, unlawful possession of firearms, gun running, and other criminal offences.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this on Tuesday at a media briefing in Abuja, stressing that the arrest was made in the last two weeks.
Adejobi said 34 of the suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping, while 22 kidnapped victims were rescued and reunited with their families.
According to him, 10 sets of military camouflage uniforms, 10 pieces of camel pack, 12 military hats, three cardigans, three T-shirts, two belts, and three anklets were recovered from the suspects.
The police spokesman said other items recovered were six AK-49 rifles, two SMGs, one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a revolver, 290 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, four AK-47 magazines, and two SMG magazines.
He further stated that two pump action rifles, a Dane gun, two Volkswagen Golf cars, bags containing several illicit drugs, N2.2 million in cash, and other dangerous weapons were also recovered from the suspects.
Adejobi said police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, also launched a manhunt and arrested a suspect over illegal possession of a prohibited firearm in Kaduna in the same period under review.
The police spokesman said the suspect was arrested on February 22 and had confessed to owning a locally fabricated gun kept in the custody of his friend.
According to him, the suspect revealed that he used to belong to a gang of kidnappers, and carried out several kidnappings but never got a share of the ransom received by the gang leader.
“This prompted him to steal the weapon from the group with the intent of eventually forming his own crew,” Adejobi said.
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