The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 27 suspects in Kawo area of Kaduna where a naval officer, Lt. Commodore M. Buba, was murdered by a suspected phone snatcher on Sunday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said in a statement on Monday that dangerous weapons were recovered from the suspects.

Hassan said, “The action was in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police to identify, flush out, and dismantle criminal elements threatening the peace in some designated areas.

“The command had conducted a series of raids in a joint operation with the Military, DSS, and Kaduna State Vigilante Service within Kawo Area and its surroundings, leading to the arrest of numerous suspects and the recovery of dangerous weapons.

“On Sunday, at about 10:30 pm, a joint tactical operation was launched in the nooks and crannies of Kawo and neighbouring areas.

“This operation led to the arrest of 27 suspects, and a significant cache of dangerous weapons was recovered from them.

“Exhibits recovered during the operation included, knives, axes, cutlasses, and large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and other hard drugs.”

He said the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order across the state.

The late officer, who was a senior course student of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, was attacked and stabbed on the chest with a knife at the bus stop before Kawo flyover at about 5:20 Sunday morning.

The incident occurred when the Naval officer had a flat tyre and as he alighted from his car trying to change the flat tyre, the assailant appeared and demanded that he hand over his GSM phone.

When the officer refused, questioning the rationale, the assailant suddenly stabbed him on the chest with a local knife.

The assailant was however overpowered by people nearby and also killed as he tried to escape.

The wounded senior officer was initially rushed to Manaal Hospital, but was confirmed dead on arrival.

His body was evacuated to the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.