The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested 17 suspected kidnappers and rescued five victims unhurt.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel stated this while parading the suspects on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Baba Maiyaki, on Thursday in Lafia.
Nansel said the suspects were arrested during various operations across the state between February 10 and April 19, based on intelligence.
He said five victims were rescued unhurt from the various operations, with four arms and eight rounds of live ammunition recovered from the suspects.
Nansel said an investigation revealed that some of the suspects were responsible for the series of kidnappings on the Nasarawa Eggon-Akwanga road, parts of Lafia and environs as well as in the southern axis of the state.
He also said some of the suspects had confessed to being members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Bali, Taraba, who had to relocate to Awe in Nasarawa State after security operatives had neutralised their colleagues.
The police spokesman said the command had also arrested five suspects for alleged armed robbery and two others for alleged cattle rustling.
He said all the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Nansel assured the public that the Command, under CP Maiyaki, would sustain the collaboration with other security agencies to rid the state of criminal elements.
In preparation for the Eid-el Fitr celebrations, Nansel said the Command had deployed personnel to various praying grounds and recreational centres to forestall any breach of peace.
He assured residents of the state of adequate protection throughout the period, urging them to be law-abiding and report any suspicious movement to security agencies for prompt response.
