Kaduna Police have arrested 27 people suspected of criminal activity following a series of coordinated raids in Kawo and surrounding parts of the Kaduna metropolis. The large-scale operation comes in response to the killing of a Naval officer, Lt.-Cdr. M. Buba, who was stabbed by a suspected thief in the early hours of Sunday.
Lt.-Cdr. Buba, who was attending a course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Jaji, was reportedly trying to fix a flat tyre on his vehicle when he was attacked around 4:50 a.m. The tragic incident occurred in the Kawo area, a location that residents say has recently seen a rise in petty crimes and drug-related violence.
Reacting swiftly to the situation, security forces, including personnel from the Nigerian Police, military units, Department of State Services (DSS), Kaduna State Vigilante Service (Kadvis), and other local security groups, carried out joint operations starting on the evening of June 8, 2025.
According to police spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, the raids were launched based on the directive of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, who tasked officers with identifying and removing criminal threats from the area. The operation was conducted across various hideouts in Kawo and nearby communities.
Hassan said, “On June 8, 2025, about 2030hrs, a joint tactical operation was launched in all parts of Kawo and neighbouring areas. The operation led to the arrest of 27 suspects, and a significant cache of dangerous weapons was recovered from them.”
Among the items recovered during the raids were knives, axes, cutlasses, and a large amount of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp, along with other illegal drugs.
CP Rabiu Muhammad noted that the police are determined to keep Kaduna safe and will continue to pursue those involved in criminal activities. He added, “Kaduna remains a peaceful state, and the Police will not allow miscreants or criminally minded individuals to destabilize the peace.”
