Kaduna task force arrests 398, recovers arms in crime crackdown

The Special Joint Task Force set up by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has recorded major successes in its ongoing crackdown on gang-related crimes and phone snatching across the state.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Hassan Mansir, the Task Force has arrested 398 suspects and recovered various dangerous weapons, illicit drugs, and 29 stolen mobile phones—some of which have already been returned to their rightful owners.

The operations, driven by credible intelligence, have led to targeted raids in key locations and forced many criminals to flee Kaduna out of fear of arrest.

Within the first nine days alone, the Task Force apprehended one Mathew Adamu, a notorious gang leader known for terrorizing several communities.

Also arrested was Adamu Umar, a suspected drug dealer from whom a locally fabricated pistol was recovered.

His case is set to be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

The Task Force, led by the Nigeria Police Force, includes personnel from the military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, NDLEA, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Customs Service, and the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVIS).

DSP Mansir noted that the crackdown was launched in response to the recent surge in urban crimes such as violent attacks, phone snatching, and gangsterism.

During the launch of the Task Force on Community Policing and Drug Control, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to public safety.

“Kaduna City will not become a haven for gangsters,” she said, urging community members and all stakeholders to support the fight against crime. “The situation, though regrettable, can be overcome through collective dedication and action,” she added.