Sixty persons have been arrested over various crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling.

According to Nigeria Police Force, the suspects were apprehended in different parts of the North-Central and North-West geopolitical zones.

Force Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who briefed newsmen in Abuja, said the suspects were arrested by Police operatives attached to the Special Tactical Squad (STS), and Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police said 11 AK47 Rifles, two Pump Action guns, three locally-made pistols, 12 Dane guns, two Revolver pistols, 10 live cartridges, 77 live ammunition and two vehicles were recovered from the suspects, saying also recovered from them were 160 rustled cattle.

He said the arrests, which were made between June 5 and 19, included the four suspects involved in the kidnap of the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and his daughter.

“The arrest of the four suspects was sequel to the massive manhunt launched to apprehend the fleeing members of the kidnap gang involved in the kidnap of UBEC Chairman,” he said.

The Police spokesman said members of the gang had fled after the death of their leader, Sumaila Sule, who died on May 18, as a result of bullet injuries sustained during a shoot-out with Police operatives.

Mba said the Police had also intercepted trucks conveying 1,972 bags of grains and 208 bags of beans to bandits’ hideout in a forest in Zamfara.

“The interception will cut off food supply and hopefully neutralise the bandits’ potency,” he said.

Mba attributed the breakthroughs to the cooperation and support of members of the public, saying such support had demonstrated Nigerians’ determination to support the Police toward restoring internal security.