Six suspected kidnappers linked to high-profile abductions, including that of a senior police officer, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Kaduna State.
In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, said the arrests were carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) in a coordinated, intelligence-led operation that also led to the rescue of several victims.
Placid said the suspects: Yusuf Shuaibu (23), Abubakar Bature (19), Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman (19), Abdul Kareem Nuhu (36), and Ahmed Musa (28), were apprehended on April 3, 2026, following sustained surveillance and tactical deployment.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a kidnapping syndicate operating within Kaduna State and its environs, with established links to criminal camps in Rijana Forest.
He described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“This operation underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to dismantling kidnapping syndicates and ensuring the safety of all citizens,” he said.
Placid added that further findings showed the group was involved in multiple kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of a senior police officer and his son in October 2025.
He said the syndicate collected a ransom of Twenty-Four Million Naira (₦24,000,000) and other valuables but failed to release the victims until police operatives intervened.
“Through sustained intelligence and tactical pressure, operatives successfully secured the release of the officer’s son unharmed. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the officer still in captivity,” he stated.
The suspects are also linked to the abduction of other victims, including a young child and members of the same family, where a ransom of Eighteen Million Naira (₦18,000,000) was reportedly paid before their eventual rescue through police operations.
Placid noted that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover weapons used in their operations.
“We are intensifying efforts to track down other members of the gang, rescue any remaining victims, and ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” he added.
He urged members of the public to support the police with credible information, assuring that all tips would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
