In a decisive move against rising insecurity, the Taraba State Police Command has apprehended nine suspected kidnappers and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition during a sweeping security operation across the state.
The breakthrough was disclosed in Jalingo through a statement issued by the Acting Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, James Leshen.
According to Leshen, the arrests followed credible intelligence provided to operatives of the Federal Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID STS) from Force Headquarters, Abuja. The operation, which also involved officers from the Taraba State Command, local hunters, and vigilante groups, according to the command, was carried out in a series of coordinated raids.
The first major success came on April 25, 2025, when three suspects were arrested: Shehu Ibrahim, 27, from Larai Gada in Ilorin; Abdullahi Haruna, 28, from Angwan Karofi in Bauchi State; and Yusuf Bello from Birama Village in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. Upon interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in numerous kidnapping activities across the region.
Items recovered during this initial phase included an AK-47 rifle, two AK-49 rifles, six magazines, and 45 rounds of live ammunition — a haul that underscored the group’s deadly potential.
Further investigation, was said to have led security operatives to six more suspected members of the same syndicate.
They were identified as Sulaiman Mohammed, 28, from Lariski in Gombe State; Tijjani Bello, 30, from Nasarawo, Jalingo; Muhammed Umar, 25, from Sabo Gari, Jalingo; Adamu Ibrahim, 22, from Mutum Daya, Karim Lamido; Solomon Nathaniel, 32, from Logo in Benue State; and Haruna Adamu, 25, from Lushi Village, Lau Local Government Area.
During this second phase, the police also recovered three additional AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, and four AK-47 magazines, further crippling the operational capabilities of the syndicate.
Leshen revealed that the suspects admitted to orchestrating and executing kidnapping operations across Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States. Their confessions are expected to provide critical leads for ongoing investigations into inter-state criminal networks.
Commissioner of Police Emmanuel S. Bretet commended the joint efforts of the operatives, hunters, and vigilantes, reaffirming the Command’s unyielding commitment to rooting out crime and protecting the lives and properties of citizens. He assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down remaining members of the syndicate who are still at large.
“The safety and security of our people remain our top priority,” Bretet emphasized. “We will not relent until all criminal elements are brought to justice.”
As investigations continue, residents of Taraba State have been urged to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities to security agencies, reinforcing a growing partnership between law enforcement and the public in the fight against crime.