Fifteen suspects have been arrested by the Sokoto state police command in connection with different crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and gunrunning, in separate operations across the state.

The command at a press briefing also displayed two Toyota-brand vehicles said to have been recovered from the suspected criminals.

The operation that led to the arrest of the suspected criminals, according to the state commissioner of police, Aliyu Hayatu Kaigama, was carried out at various points in some communities in Gwadabawa, Wurno, Wmakko, and along the Bodinga/Tambuwal road.

Kaigama disclosed this while parading the suspects, including two juveniles, Sanda and Sarajo, of Binji local government, who were used by the suspected criminals for surveillance purposes before journalists at the command headquarters in Sokoto.

He said the 16 suspects, of whom one was neutralised, were arrested in separate coordinated operations after tip-offs by the command team from the anti-kidnapping and terrorism unit.

“On credible intelligence, our men laid an ambush along the Bodinga/Tambuwal highway, which successfully led to the arrest of the suspected criminals.

“Various arms and ammunition, including a general-purpose machine gun, cartridges, hundreds of rounds of live ammunition, and three AK-47 rifles, were also recovered from the suspects”.

He explained that the suspects were said to be heading for Tambuwal town for a kidnapping mission at the time they were intercepted.

The command operatives gallantly engaged and overpowered the suspected bandits in their numbers in a gun battle and finally succeeded in neutralising one of the bandits who were moving in numbers after shooting a farmer, Ibrahim Bello, at his farm while fetching water from a well in Gigane village in Gwadabawa local government area.

Kaigama also confirmed the arrest of two suspected gun runners and suppliers named Muhammadu Mode and Betuwa Dogari, all of Bukuyum LGA, in the neighbouring state of Zamfara.

He said the suspects were about to receive delivery of 790 rounds of live ammunition for onward delivery to Kwalle a kidnap pin when the operatives from the command intercepted on Gaidau Illela Road in Illela LGA.

He said the kidnapping pin Kwalle, who is now on the run, carried out his criminal activities across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.

The command assured members of the general public of its renewed efforts and commitment to a free state of criminal tendencies.