By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 21 suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, firearms trafficking, aiding terrorism and a staged abduction involving a two-year-old boy, in a series of intelligence-led operations across several states.
The arrests, according to the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, another rifle, 106 rounds of ammunition, magazines, a vehicle, a knife, charms and ₦220,000 cash.
In one of the cases, police arrested Nansik Wuyep Sule, 34; Catherine Davou; and Luka Emmanuel Butdam over an alleged plot to fake the kidnapping of a two-year-old boy and demand ₦15 million ransom from the child’s grandmother.
According to the police, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department arrested Sule in Jos, Plateau State, on July 23, 2026, following credible intelligence.
During interrogation, Sule allegedly confessed to conspiring with Davou, the child’s mother, to stage the abduction.
The police said the child had been hidden at Davou’s residence while Butdam allegedly made calls to the grandmother demanding ₦15 million ransom.
All three suspects were subsequently arrested, while the child was rescued, taken to hospital for medical attention and later handed over to his biological father.
In another operation, operatives arrested Idris Mohammed, also known as Yellow, described by the police as a suspected notorious kidnapper, and Mohammed Bello Adams over alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.
Mohammed was arrested on July 28, 2026, in Bauchi State, where he was allegedly found with a 2012 red Toyota Corolla, registration number SMK 611 BF, said to have been abandoned during a kidnapping operation.
The vehicle was recovered and subsequently released to the complainant.
Adams was later arrested in Nasarawa State in connection with the alleged activities of Mohammed.
Police said further investigation linked Mohammed to the alleged kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and Abdullahi Abubakar, for which ransoms of ₦7.5 million and ₦3 million respectively were reportedly paid.
Meanwhile, eight suspects have been arrested over alleged criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession and dealing in firearms in Imo and Rivers states.
The suspects are Mohammadu Sani, Moses Daniel, Usman Mohammad, Aliyu Manu, Ibrahim Mohammed, Samaila Ibrahim, Ahmed Abubakar and Umaru Abdullahi.
The suspects were received by the Intelligence Response Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser on June 4, 2026, after their arrests at various locations in the two states.
Police identified Mohammadu Sani as the alleged gang leader and said he was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, with an AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, indicated that the group had relocated from Kogi State to Port Harcourt and was allegedly involved in multiple kidnapping operations in Rivers and Imo states.
The investigation also allegedly revealed their involvement in the illegal procurement and supply of firearms.
The police said a prima facie case had been established against the suspects, while investigation continues.
In a separate firearms trafficking case, the police arrested Yakubu Danladi Pam and Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain over alleged unlawful dealing in firearms.
A locally fabricated AK-47 rifle without a magazine or ammunition was recovered from Pam, while Hussain was allegedly arrested in Jos, Plateau State, on June 30, 2026.
Police said one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from Hussain.
According to the investigation, Pam was allegedly involved in the illegal supply and sale of firearms and received firearms from Hussain for onward distribution.
The police further alleged that Hussain was involved in the supply and transportation of firearms across the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.
Efforts are ongoing to identify other members of the alleged firearms trafficking syndicate.
In another case involving alleged criminal conspiracy, aiding terrorism and illegal possession of prohibited ammunition, six suspects were arrested in Katsina State and its environs.
The suspects are Kabiru Mohammed, Muhammad Sani, Ibrahim Musa Lawan, Yusuf Shuaibu, Manner Abdulmumuni and Fatima Ishiaku.
The police said the suspects were arrested on March 29, 2026, following an operation triggered by intercepted phone communications.
They were allegedly involved in the buying and selling of arms and ammunition.
Recovered from the suspects were 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four rounds of red cartridges, a long knife, multiple charms and ₦220,000 cash.
The police also identified Alhaji Abdulbashir, Alhaji Ado Garba and Alhaji Babban Kifi, all males from Katsina State, as alleged collaborators who were said to have lured the suspects into the arms business.
The female suspect, Fatima Ishiaku, was allegedly used as a courier to deliver the items to prospective customers.
The three alleged collaborators are still at large, according to the police, while investigation continues.
The Force said the arrests and recoveries demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led policing, sustained investigations and inter-agency collaboration in tackling kidnapping networks, firearms trafficking, violent criminal enterprises and fraudulent schemes.
It urged members of the public to remain vigilant, exercise caution in their dealings and provide relevant information to the police through established channels.
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