Many people were said to have been arrested by team of detectives in Ibbi, Taraba State.
Several security agents were deployed to the town following the killing of three policemen and a civilian by soldiers at a checkpoint along Ibbi-Wukari road.
The team it was gathered was hunting for suspected kidnap kingpin Hamisu Wadumi who escaped at the checkpoint where the policemen were killed.
A source in the area told Daily Trust on Sunday that the team was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.
It was gathered that some of those arrested were taken to a police area command in Wukari while others were taken to Jalingo, the state capital.
More than 15 trucks of soldiers and policemen were said to be deployed in the town to effect the arrests.
It was also gathered that vehicles belonging to the suspected kidnapper were retrieved from his house and other locations in the town by the police.
Ibbi, located by the Bank of River Benue, is said to have been deserted following the killings of the policemen.
The Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP David Misal could not be reached for comments as his line was switched-off when our reporter called him