The police in Plateau State has arrested one Auwal Mohammed while trying to supply bread and other items to kidnappers in the Mazah community of Jos North Local Government Area.
This followed the arrest of over 12 suspects involved in various crimes.
Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Jos on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, said Mohammed, was a member of a kidnap syndicate operating between Plateau and Bauchi states.
He revealed that the suspect was apprehended by detectives from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit while on a mission to deliver supplies to his cohorts.
He stated; “As part of our efforts to rid Plateau State of kidnapping activities, the command has arrested a member of a kidnap syndicate around Mazah community in Jos North Local Government Area.
“The suspect, one Auwal Mohammed, 20 years old of Tilde Fulani Toro LGA of Bauchi State, was arrested on 03/08/2025 at about 12:30pm by our detectives from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
“Upon conducting an on-the-spot search on him, the following items were found in his possession: one cutlass, loaves of bread, packets of cigarettes, sachets of powdered Chekers Custard, one torchlight, sachets of Glucose, sachets of Top Tea, and one Tecno Camon Phone, which, he said, belonged to one of the victims.
“During our interview, the suspect confessed that he is a member of a kidnap syndicate that operates around the borders of Plateau and Bauchi States. He also revealed that he was out on a mission to get more supplies for his fellow gang members, while they await a response from their victim’s family.
“The suspect is currently in our custody, as efforts are on top gear to arrest his cohorts and charge them in court for onward prosecution”.
He also disclosed the arrest of three other suspects, Sunusi Abdullahi, Suleiman Saidu, and Abbas Yusuf, who were involved in kidnapping activities in the Mista-Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area.
In another development, Adesina said the police rescued a kidnap victim, Ebuka, and arrested four suspects, Joshua Ponzing Nathaniel, Zairuma Sani, Abas Sani, and Nanfa Goni, who were found with a locally fabricated pistol.
The police also arrested two suspects, Inusa Yahaya and Abdulrahman Suleiman, who were in possession of a locally fabricated revolver rifle, and another suspect, Godwin Jacob, who was found with a locally fabricated pistol.
The CP assured the public that the command was committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property in Plateau State, especially during the “Ember Months” when crime rates tend to rise.
“I have directed all the DPOs and heads of Tactical/Patrol Teams to embark on ‘Ember Month Surveillance’ operations to ensure that Plateau citizens and visitors are safe during this period,” he said.
He noted that all the suspects would be charged in court at the end of the investigation as he urged residents to continue supporting the police with credible intelligence to help combat crime in the state.
