The Nigeria Police Force has achieved a major operational success with the arrest of two notorious bandits and kidnapping kingpins linked to violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kwara States.
A statement by the Force Spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Friday, December 19, said operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT) in Kwara, in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command, intercepted and arrested the suspects along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi, 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide, 30. The arrest occurred in Komen–Masallaci village, Kaiama LGA, Kwara State.
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Recovered items include a brand-new red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at N1.85 million, N500,000 in cash from unspent ransom proceeds, and an AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition. Investigations revealed that the motorcycle was purchased using ransom funds.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects belong to a notorious bandit and kidnapping gang terrorising communities across Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kwara States. The gang also supplies arms and ammunition to other criminal elements,” the statement said.
Both suspects are cooperating with investigators to facilitate the arrest of other syndicate members and recover additional weapons.
CSP Hundeyin added that Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi, had recently gained notoriety after appearing in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.
