Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on kidnapping syndicates with the arrest of six suspected kidnappers and the rescue of victims in Kaduna State.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Anthony Okon Placid, Force Public Relations Officer, who said the operation was carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
According to the statement, the suspects—Yusuf Shuaibu (23), Abubakar Bature (19), Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman (19), Abdul Kareem Nuhu (36), and Ahmed Musa (28)—were apprehended on April 3, 2026, following intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks in the state.
Preliminary investigations, Placid said, revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating within Kaduna and its surrounding communities, with established links to criminal camps located in the Rijana Forest axis, a known hotspot for banditry and kidnapping activities.
He disclosed that the syndicate was responsible for several high-profile abductions, including the kidnapping of a senior police officer and his son in October 2025.
“Despite collecting a ransom of Twenty-Four Million Naira (₦24,000,000) and other valuables, the victims were not released until police operatives intervened, leading to the successful rescue of the officer’s son unharmed,” Placid stated.
He added that efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the police officer who remains in captivity.
The Force spokesperson further revealed that the suspects are linked to additional kidnapping operations, including the abduction of a young child and members of a family, during which a ransom of ₦18 million was collected before the victims were eventually rescued through coordinated police action.
Placid noted that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, dismantle their operational networks, and recover weapons used in their criminal activities.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, assuring the public that sustained operations are underway to restore safety and confidence in affected communities.
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