Kebbi: Police arrest suspected kidnappers, recover firearms

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested suspected kidnappers and recovered illegal firearms during a week-long security operation across the state.

The operations, conducted between December 21 and 26, 2025, followed intensified patrols and intelligence-led strategies aimed at dismantling kidnapping syndicates and curbing the proliferation of illicit weapons.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the command’s spokesman, SP Bashar Usman.

According to the statement, a suspect identified as Iliya D. Bano of Yarbuga village was arrested in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area for allegedly threatening the village head of Yar Ali village and another resident with kidnapping unless a ransom of N500,000 was paid.

Usman said the suspect confessed during interrogation and provided information that led to the identification of an accomplice who is currently at large.

In a related development in the same local government area, another suspect, Danisa Yakub of Tafki village, was arrested for allegedly demanding N1 million from a resident of Koliko village under threats of abduction.

“The suspect admitted his involvement in a previous kidnapping incident in the area,” the police spokesman added.

Meanwhile, in Kalgo Local Government Area, police operatives recovered ten locally fabricated firearms from three suspects identified as Aliyu Muhammad Sambawa, Salihu Haruna and Suleiman Isah.

The suspects were reportedly unable to give satisfactory explanations for possessing the weapons.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, attributed the successes to sustained patrols and actionable intelligence.

“These arrests and recoveries are a result of our commitment to proactive policing and intelligence-driven operations across Kebbi State,” he said.

The police commissioner assured residents that investigations were ongoing and that all suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

He also appealed to members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and useful information, stressing that security is a collective responsibility.

The command reaffirmed its resolve to sustain pressure on criminal elements and maintain peace across the state.