Niger Police Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles in Major Crackdown

The Niger State Police Command has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate linked to armed robbery, abduction, and murder across parts of Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arresting five suspects and recovering 10 AK-47 rifles.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Minna on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

According to the police commissioner, the alleged gang leader, Samaila Ilya, also known as Yakumujuri, was arrested on July 10 at Kpakungu Roundabout in Minna after previously escaping during a fierce gun battle with police operatives in Bwari, Abuja.

Police said intelligence reports had linked the 45-year-old suspect to a series of kidnapping operations in Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka, Kaduna Road, Kubwa, and Bwari.

During interrogation, Samaila allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnappings in Gauraka, Kubwa, and Bwari.

He also reportedly revealed details of a tragic incident in which one of the gang members allegedly shot dead the son of a kidnapped woman before collecting ransom and releasing her.

According to the police, an earlier attempt to arrest Samaila and his gang at his residence in Bwari resulted in a gun battle, during which the suspects escaped.

However, acting on fresh technical intelligence, operatives later tracked and arrested him in Minna.

Further investigations led police to a hideout at Bwari Hills near Sabon-Wuse, where another exchange of gunfire occurred. A search of the area resulted in the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition.

A week later, officers from the Police Command's anti-kidnapping unit launched another operation in Gauraka following reports of a fresh abduction. During the mission, three kidnapped victims were rescued and five suspected gang members were arrested.

The suspects were identified as:

• Amadu Abdullahi, also known as Kachalla Baban-Tsoho, from Kidandam Forest in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.
• Adamu Abubakar of Igede Village, Mashegu Local Government Area.
• Mohammed Tasiu of Kaduna Road.
• Sani Shehu of Kaduna Road.
• Bashir Aliyu, also known as Kachalla Mallam, of Kaduna Road.

Police said Samaila further confessed that two gang members, identified as Langalanga and Shafiu, were involved in an accident at Dikko Junction on February 17, 2026, during which security operatives recovered three AK-47 rifles and 104 rounds of live ammunition.

He also disclosed that additional rifles had been buried in the Gauraka forest by members of the gang. Acting on the information, police recovered two more AK-47 rifles concealed in the bush.

Further intelligence led officers to Bwari, where Samaila reportedly guided investigators to the recovery of two additional AK-47 rifles and 36 rounds of live ammunition believed to have been hidden by two fleeing gang members identified as Yakubu and Babuga.

In total, police recovered 10 AK-47 rifles during the series of operations.

CP Elleman said all arrested suspects remain in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations, while efforts are continuing to arrest other members of the criminal syndicate who are still at large.