Plateau police arrest kidnappers, gunrunners, in massive raids 

Operatives of the Plateau State Police Command have arrested kidnappers, terrorists and gunrunners in massive raids on their hideouts in various parts of the state in a bid to rid the state of criminal elements ahead of the Easter period.

Commissioner of Police, CP Ewah Bassey, who disclosed this during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Command in Jos on Saturday, said the coordinated raids were carried out after intelligence-based investigations which revealed the hideouts of the criminals.

In a statement made available to journalists, the Police Commissioner said on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at about 03:00pm, the Command received information from one of the applicants for the Police physical and credential screening exercise, that while on his way back to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, he was kidnapped by unknown hoodlums who robbed him of his Samsung Galaxzy A8, Power Bank and a cash sum of N25,000, before taking him to a jungle in Gada Biu where they kept him for some time and later released him.

“Upon receipt of this report, I directed the Officer in Charge of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) to immediately swing into action and arrest the hoodlums,” Bassey said.

He added that during a raid at the hideout of the gang, a 25-year-old man, Prince Bernard Bassey, an indigene of Ogoja, Cross Rivers State and one Sunday Laraba from Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, were arrested while illicit hard drugs, sharp objects and various SIM cards were recovered from them.

In other raids carried out by the police, the CP said operatives also arrested three suspects in Shendam Local Government Area and recovered AK-47 rifles and ammunition in the process.

“In other raids conducted by the police, three suspects in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms in Shendam Local Government Area,” Bassey said.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on March 23, 2026, at about 2:30 p.m., following credible intelligence received from a trusted informant.

“Acting swiftly on the tip-off, authorities apprehended three individuals identified as Taimako Luwe, Korbe Gobakji, and Nandang Zingchang, all male residents of Yashi village in Shendam LGA,” the Police Chief said.

He noted that during the operation, security personnel recovered three AK-47 rifles, two magazines, and one 7.62mm live round of ammunition from the suspects.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects, Taimako Luwe, confessed to owning the firearms. He further disclosed that he acquired the weapons in Vom before distributing them to his accomplices.

“Efforts underway to track down and apprehend other individuals linked and the suspects will soon be charged to court after a thorough investigation into their involvement in the crimes,” he added.

Plateau police arrest kidnappers, gunrunners, in massive raids