The Plateau State Police Command on Thursday paraded 15 suspects linked to various crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder, across different parts of the state.

Among them was 20-year-old Auwal Mohammed, apprehended while attempting to deliver bread and other provisions to kidnappers in the Mazah community, Jos North Local Government Area.

Briefing journalists at the Command headquarters in Jos, Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Adesina said preliminary investigations showed Mohammed is part of a kidnapping syndicate operating between Plateau and Bauchi States.

He explained that detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested Mohammed on August 3, 2025, while he was on a supply mission to his gang members.

“On-the-spot search revealed items including a cutlass, loaves of bread, cigarettes, custard sachets, a torchlight, glucose, tea sachets, and a Tecno Camon phone, which he admitted belonged to one of the victims,” Adesina stated.

According to the Commissioner, the suspect confessed to being part of the syndicate and was tasked with bringing food and supplies to his colleagues as they awaited ransom from a victim’s family. He is currently in custody while efforts continue to track down other members of the gang.

In a related development, three other suspects — Sunusi Abdullahi, Suleiman Saidu, and Abbas Yusuf — were arrested over kidnapping activities in the Mista-Ali area of Bassa Local Government. The police also rescued a victim identified as Ebuka during an operation that led to the arrest of four men — Joshua Ponzing Nathaniel, Zairuma Sani, Abas Sani, and Nanfa Goni — in possession of a locally fabricated pistol.

Additional arrests included Inusa Yahaya and Abdulrahman Suleiman, caught with a locally made revolver rifle, and Godwin Jacob, found with a locally fabricated pistol.

Adesina assured residents that the command is intensifying security measures, particularly during the Ember Months when crime usually escalates.

“I have directed all Divisional Police Officers and heads of tactical units to carry out surveillance operations to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors in Plateau State during this period,” he added.