Kaduna: After naval officer’s death, security forces raid hideouts, arrest 27 suspects

A few hours after a naval officer was reportedly stabbed by a hoodlum in the Kawo area of Kaduna State, security forces launched a massive joint raid that led to the arrest of 27 suspected criminals and the seizure of weapons and hard drugs.

The operation, which took place on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at about 8.30pm, was carried out by a combined team of the Kaduna State Police Command, military personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS), Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) and local vigilantes.

The raid targeted known criminal enclaves in Kawo and surrounding neighbourhoods, flushing out suspects and dismantling hideouts believed to harbour gangs responsible for recent acts of violence, including the attack on the naval officer.

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Security personnel recovered a cache of dangerous weapons, including knives, axes, and cutlasses, as well as large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and other hard drugs.

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, described the operation as part of a broader effort to stamp out criminal elements who threaten the safety and peace of the state.

“We will not fold our arms and watch criminals disrupt public order,” CP Muhammad said. “Kaduna is a peaceful state and will remain so. Anyone with the intent to cause violence is advised to desist or leave.”

He emphasised the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that there would be no hiding place for those attempting to destabilise the state.

DSP Mansir Hassan, the Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued, said the arrested suspects are undergoing a thorough investigation and will face prosecution.