Plateau State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded 15 criminal suspects arrested across the state for various crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and other sundry crimes.
The standout suspect was one Auwal Mohammed, who was arrested while trying to supply bread and other food items to kidnappers in the Mazah community of Jos North Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, while briefing journalists during the parade at the headquarters of the Command, said preliminary investigation revealed Mohammed belongs to a kidnap syndicate operating between Plateau and Bauchi States.
The CP said the suspect was arrested by detectives from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit while on a mission to deliver food and other supplies to his colleagues.
“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,” Adesina said.
“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”, the CP added.
According to the police boss, three other suspects, Sunusi Abdullahi, Suleiman Saidu, and Abbas Yusuf, were arrested for their involvement in kidnapping activities in the Mista-Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, while a kidnap victim identified simply as Ebuka was rescued in an operation that led to the arrest of four suspects, Joshua Ponzing Nathaniel, Zairuma Sani, Abas Sani, and Nanfa Goni, who were found with a locally fabricated pistol.
Other paraded suspects included Inusa Yahaya and Abdulrahman Suleiman, who were arrested with a locally fabricated revolver rifle, and Godwin Jacob, who was found with a locally fabricated pistol.
The CP also 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,” Adesina emphasized.
Plateau police arrest suspect who supplies food items to kidnappers