Police arrest six kidnappers, rescue victims in Kaduna crackdown

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of six suspected kidnappers and the rescue of multiple victims in Kaduna State, describing the operation as a significant breakthrough in its ongoing fight against violent crime.

A statement issued on Tuesday, Anthony Placid, Force Public Relations Officer, said the arrests were carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) during a coordinated operation on April 3, 2026.

“The suspects were identified as Yusuf Shuaibu (23), Abubakar Bature (19), Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman (19), Abdul Kareem Nuhu (36), and Ahmed Musa (28)”, the Police said.

According to the police, they are believed to be members of a well-organised kidnapping syndicate operating within Kaduna and surrounding areas, with established links to criminal hideouts in the notorious Rijana Forest.

The statement noted that the operation not only led to the suspects’ arrest but also resulted in the rescue of several victims and uncovered the group’s involvement in a string of high-profile abductions.

“The Nigeria Police Force, through the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad, has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of six notorious kidnapping suspects and the rescue of victims in Kaduna State,” it said.

Preliminary investigations, it added, revealed that the suspects were part of a structured criminal network with defined roles, responsible for planning and executing abductions across the region.

The police further disclosed that the syndicate was linked to the abduction of a senior police officer and his son in October 2025. Despite collecting a ransom of N24 million and other valuables, the kidnappers failed to release the victims until security operatives intervened.

“Police efforts led to the successful rescue of the officer’s son unharmed, while operations are still ongoing to secure the release of the officer,” the Police stated.

The suspects were also implicated in other kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of a young child and members of the same family. In that case, a ransom of N18 million was reportedly paid before the victims were eventually freed through police intervention.

The Force say investigations are ongoing to track down fleeing members of the syndicate, rescue any remaining captives, and recover weapons used by the group.

It reiterated the Force’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks across the country, assuring that intensified operations would continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice.