The Adamawa State Police Command has rescued 20 kidnap victims and arrested 87 Kidnappers over the last three months across the state.
The state’s new Police Commissioner, Sikiru Akande, disclosed this while addressing journalists, in Yola, on Friday.
Akande said the crackdown by the police on criminal hideouts in the state led to the arrest of 13 kidnap suspects and the recovery of One AK 47 riffle, two locally-made double barrel pistols, and two den guns.
Others are 24 rounds of live ammunition, one leg chain, padlock, military uniform, three motorcycles, cash sum of N358,500 and others.
According to him, the arrest followed the police commands and tactical divisions crackdown in line with the strategic action plan, laid out by the command on combating kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the state.
The plan and crackdown, he said, led to the arrest of 13 suspects in connection with kidnapping activities, unlawful possession of firearms among others across the state.
“Between March and June, we have arrested no fewer than 87 kidnap suspects. We have rescued about 20 persons unhurt. If we go after them, we don’t allow them to hurt their victims. That’s why we go after them once their victims are released. I am glad that we have arrested the mastermind behind the recent high-profile kidnap of a former government functionary in the state.”
The commissioner said he made a promise at inception to make the state peaceful, secure, and crime-free.
According to him, since we made the promise, the command has not gone to sleep, especially with the upsurge of kidnapping incidents around the metropolis, we have increased vehicular patrols in town and also securing the release of kidnap victims.
“Not only did we increase our vehicular patrols in town but we went deep after we have secured the release of the victims. Because of the victims are still with them and you are chasing them, the tendency for them to kill the victims is very high.
“So we allowed the victims to be rescued before went after them all. I am glad to tell you that we have the mastermind of these incidents in the state. We have also recovered arms used in the operations,” he said.
He also explained that the police will not relent in the manhunt of those suspects at large until they are apprehended and brought to book.
