The Police in Bauchi State have arrested 96 suspects and rescued 28 hostages in the last 10 days, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Haliru Gwandu, has said.
Gwandu told newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday that those arrested included 56 suspected kidnappers.
Among them are four women, 15 suspected armed robbers and five suspected cultists.
Others are 14 suspected Indian hemp dealers, one rape suspect who specialised in kidnapping, cattle rustling and extortion.
He said the suspects operated in Dass, Soro, Tafawa Balewa, Toro and Gumau axis of the state.
Gwandu said 18 of the suspects had been charged to court, while 15 others were still being investigated.
The commissioner listed items recovered from the suspects as six assorted guns, four cartridges, one magazine, 11 cutlasses, three bows and arrows and one ammunition.
Gwandu also said three vehicles, two motor cycles, 231 cows, 37 sheep, one camel, N31,000 and 48 wraps and one bundle of fresh leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects.
Other items are one military belt, haversack, kitbag, jack knife, 11 GSM powered handsets, 18 handsets, four masks, five overalls, two charms and one iron box.
The commissioner said seven backup batteries belonging to MTN Nigeria, two inverters and one charger were also recovered from the suspects.
He called on members of the public to assist the police with useful information to curb crime in the state.