SIX SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, KIDNAPPING, THREAT TO COMMIT KIDNAPPING AND ABETMENT – MEDIA TODAY

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SIX SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, KIDNAPPING, THREAT TO COMMIT KIDNAPPING AND ABETMENT

In continuation of its sustained efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, the Niger State Police Command has burst a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating along Suleja and Kontagora axis, with links extending to Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States. The suspects arrested are;
-Amira Yusuf 23yrs of Kano State
-Abdullahi Garba 40yrs of Sokoto State
-Ibrahim Mohammed 37yrs of Kano
-Maijida Abubakar 26yrs of Kano
-Abdullahi Sani 40yrs of Zamfara
-Bello Shehu 22yrs of Sokoto State.
Investigation revealed that the syndicate adopted a deceptive modus operandi, using private vehicles to lure unsuspecting victims under the guise of offering lift assistance, after which the victims would drugged and taken to hideouts in neighbouring states.

On 14th May 2026, at about 2p.m, a case of criminal conspiracy and suspected kidnapping was reported at Anti-kidnapping Unit, SCID Minna and the report indicated that, on 7th February 2026, at about 7p.m, a female victim and her little baby were kidnapped by unknown hoodlums in Suleja while on her way to the market. Two days later, being 9th February 2026, at about 9:20p.m, a phone call was received by the relatives from a strange phone number demanding a ransom of fifty million naira to secure her release. The relatives sourced for funds and raised nine million, five hundred thousand naira which was paid to the abductors in installments into three different accounts bearing different names, but the victim was not released rather, they threatened to kill her. Fortunately, she managed to escape, leaving her personal belongings behind which include phone, ATM card and other items. It was later discovered that the hoodlums exploited the victim’s abandoned banking details to demand ransom of ten million, five hundred thousand naira from another woman abducted from Shagari, Sokoto State, while she was travelling to visit her husband in Kontagora area of Niger State.

On receipt of the report, detectives from the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately commenced intensive investigation and analysis of the accounts through which ransom payments were made and one Amira Yusuf Aliyu, 23yrs, of Kano State, was arrested on 2nd July 2026. During interrogation, she claimed that she was deceived by one Mustapha Yusuf, the suspected leader of the syndicate who is at large. She added that Mustapha lured her to Sokoto under the pretext of introducing her to his family with a promise of marriage, but subsequently abducted her and used her account details to demand ransom from her parents.

Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of one Abdullahi Garba a.k.a. Zidane, 40yrs of Sokoto State on 26th July 2026, who was arrested at the residence where Amira was kept after her abduction. During interrogation, Abdullahi admitted knowledge of the incident but claimed that Mustapha had also deceived him into believing that Amira was his fiancée and had used his phone to communicate with her parents without his knowledge.

Further investigative efforts led to the arrest of one Ibrahim Mohammed Kote 37yrs and Maijida Abubakar Yusuf 26yrs; both of Kano State on the 7th and 10th of August 2026 respectively. Findings revealed that Ibrahim is the brother-in-law of the suspected kingpin and had stood as a surety for him when Mustapha was arrested and detained by another security agency in Kano and Maijida was also identified as a member of the syndicate and wife of Mustapha. Her account was reportedly used to receive several ransom payments from victims which she confessed to, adding that proceeds from the criminal activities were used, among other things, to purchase a Honda Civic vehicle, renovate her room and acquire household items.

Additionally, in a further breakthrough to the investigation, another top member of the syndicate, one Abdullahi Sani a.k.a. Samaila Atulu, 40yrs of Zamfara State, was also arrested in Zaria on 19th August 2026 and when searched, assorted charms were recovered in his posession. During interrogation, he confessed to using the charms to defraud members of the public under the guise of providing spiritual assistance and subsequently arranged with Mustapha for some of his clients to be kidnapped. He was later identified in the Police Command Headquarters during an identification parade by a victim, who pointed him as one of the persons involved in the abduction of her and her baby in Suleja.

Following the disappearance of the second victim from Shagari, Sokoto State; another suspect, one Bello Shehu 22yrs, of Gangam Village, Shagari LGA, Sokoto State, was also arrested on reasonable suspicion of providing information about the victim’s whereabouts to Mustapha, with whom he was acquainted. The investigation has so far resulted in the arrest of the six suspects mentioned above, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the alleged syndicate leader, *”Mustapha Yusuf”* and two other members identified as *”Jafar”* and *”Fatima”*, who are currently at large. The suspects arrested are in Police custody undergoing further investigation and interrogation as the Command intensifies efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover other relevant evidence, after which the case will be charged to court for prosecution.

The Police Command reassures members of the public of its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protecting lives and property by bringing perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information that may assist ongoing efforts to combat crime and criminality in the State.

SP Wasiu Abiodun
Police PRO
Niger State Command

27th August, 2026.