Department of State Services has arrested seventeen suspected kidnappers, gunrunners and cultists in some states, including Kaduna and Katsina States.

According to the agency, five of the suspects were arrested on Oct. 25 in Riga Chikun, Kaduna state, giving the names of the suspects as Isa Ahmadu, gang leader, Suleiman Umar, ransom negotiator, Ibrahim Mallam, Ishaku Saidu aka Ishe and Mansur, Mallam.

Its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, said after a preliminary investigation, the group’s hideout in Katsina state was raided, which led to the arrest of two other members, Muhammadu Ibrahim and Muhammed Isa.

Afunanya said earlier on Oct. 19, another suspected kidnapper, Sirajo Ibrahim was arrested at Hayin Danmni, Igabi Local Government Area of Katsian state.

He said the service had also arrested the duo of Abubakar Umar and Suleiman Sani for alleged gun running, saying the suspects were arrested on Oct. 30 at Sainyinan, Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Afunanya also said between Oct. 11 and 12, four suspected armed bandits operating around Zamfara were arrested in Bakura, Tsafe and Bugundu Local Government Areas of the state.

He named the suspected bandits as Dan-Alhaji, Dan-Mineri,Yusuf Khalif and Musa (Mallam).

The spokesman said the service, in collaboration with the military, also arrested Muhammed Aminu, another suspected gunrunner and his accomplice, Dare Okunwola, aka boda.

Afunanya said the suspect was arrested in Lere Local Government Area and Agindi, Jos, in Kaduna state and Plateau respectively, saying during a search at Okunwola`s residence, several ammunition and eight AK-47 rifles were recovered.

He said other arrests made by the service include two suspected cultists – Yakubu Mohammed and Joseph Andoaasin – at North Bank, Makurdi in Benue, saying cartridges and a locally made pistol were recovered from the suspects.

The spokesman said the service had leads that would enable it and other sister agencies to address the menace of kidnapping in the country, saying all the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He gave the assurance that the tempo of the operations would be sustained and strengthened sustained for greater impact on the wellbeing of Nigerians, enjoined the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by availing them of useful information to assist them carry out their mandates.

The service, in collaboration with the military, had arrested suspected abductors and killers of the traditional ruler of Adara Chiefdom, Maiwada Galadima.