The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity with the arrest of two notorious kidnapping kingpins whose operations cut across four northern states.
In a statement released on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspects were arrested during a covert operation carried out in Kwara State by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT) in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command.
Hundeyin identified the suspects as Abubakar Usman, also known as Siddi, aged 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide, aged 30.
“The suspects were intercepted along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State,” he said.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the duo are members of a notorious banditry and kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorising communities in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kwara states.
Items recovered during the operation include an AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition, ₦500,000 in cash identified as unspent ransom proceeds, and a brand new Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at ₦1.85 million.
“Investigations revealed that the motorcycle was purchased with proceeds of ransom payments,” Hundeyin said, adding that the gang also doubles as suppliers of arms and ammunition to other criminal elements.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that one of the suspects, Abubakar Usman, had been on the police watchlist and was recently seen in a viral social media video flaunting firearms and large sums of money.
He said the suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to aid the arrest of other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional weapons.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their professionalism and dedication, assuring that the Force remains committed to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of citizens nationwide.
