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The Niger State Police Command has arrested five suspects over alleged involvement in kidnapping for ransom.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
According to the statement, one of the suspects, Abubakar Mohammed Sidi was arrested in Jebba on 28 September following intelligence reports linking him to kidnapping incident.
The PPRO alleged that he confessed to belonging to a gang led by a suspect identified as Gide, which operates around Ibbi village and uses the Ibbi forest as a hideout.
The suspect admitted participating in about three kidnapping operations in which ransom was paid.
The police said preliminary investigations linked the suspect to a gang operating under a man known as Batijo around Gugu Forest in Kwara State.
The statement further alleged that he communicated with a person identified as Usman over plans to collect two AK-47 rifles from another suspect, Auta, for planned kidnapping operations in Niger State.
Another suspect, Zangara, who was arrested near Macrean Bridge in Mashegu on 24 September, was also linked to a separate kidnapping case.
The police said he confessed to belonging to a seven-member gang allegedly contracted by a suspect identified as Dogo, who remains at large, to abduct a victim in August.The gang reportedly collected N3.5 million as ransom before releasing the victim.
“In continuation of the Command's efforts to fight violent crime in the state, the VCRU personnel recently arrested five suspects in different locations within the state for the offence of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping for ransom,” the statement read.
"The suspects arrested are; -Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a Sidi 23yrs of Bani village, Kwara, Aliyu Abubakar a.k.a Hiri 25yrs of Zugurma village, Niger State, Legi Zangara 20yrs of Yauri, Kebbi, Ibrahim Abubakar 20yrs, and Abubakar Musa 20yrs, both of Kebbi.
"Abubakar Mohammed Sidi was arrested in Jebba during an occasion on September 28th, 2026 through the aid of technical intelligence.
"He was arrested based on intelligence received about his involvement in some kidnapping incidents. During interrogation, he confessed to being part of the gang of one Gide, terrorising communities around Ibbi village, the highway and using Ibbi forest as a hideout. He added that he had participated in about three kidnapping activities where ransom was paid.
"Aliyu Abubakar Hiri was arrested on September 30th, 2026 at Zugurma village. A preliminary investigation revealed that he was among the gang members working under a kingpin known as Batijo, operating around Gugu forest in Kwara.
"Further findings also established his communication with one Usman to proceed to Gugu forest in order to collect two AK-47 rifles from one Auta for further kidnapping escapades in Niger State.
Legi Zangara was earlier arrested on September 24th, 2026 around Macrean bridge, Mashegu for a kidnapping incident. He confessed to being a member of a seven-man gang and one Dogo presently at large contracted them to kidnap a victim in August 2026 and a ransom of #3.5m was taken before releasing the victim.
“Ibrahim Abubakar and Abubakar Musa belonged to another group of kidnappers operating around Macrean bridge, Mashegu but both from Keebi, crossed to Niger State to perpetrate crime and return. They both confessed to a kidnapping crime, where they collected #3m ransom before releasing the victim. All suspects are in custody undergoing further investigation and they will be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of the investigation.”
The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, mnips, reiterates the Command's commitment to combating violent crimes and ensuring that perpetrators of criminal acts are brought to justice.
He also urges members of the public to continue providing credible information to the Police to assist in crime prevention and detection.
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