The Niger State Police Command successfully disrupted a dangerous kidnapping group responsible for violence in the state and the Federal Capital Territory. Commissioner of Police Adamu Abdullahi Elleman announced the results of a month-long security operation in Minna, noting that 71 suspects were taken into custody during July.
Intelligence gathering played a key role in the success, leading to the recovery of 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 magazines, and 330 rounds of ammunition. These operations focused on areas including Garam, Chachi, and the Kaduna Road corridor. Among those captured was suspected gang leader Samaila Ilya, also known as Yakumujuri, who was apprehended in Minna following a previous escape from a firefight in Bwari.
During questioning, Ilya reportedly admitted to involvement in kidnappings and revealed details about the group’s violent actions. This information allowed officers to uncover hidden weapons caches in the Gauraka forest and Bwari. In a separate incident, police stopped Zubairu Mohammed in Tegina with a significant amount of ammunition hidden inside a bag of cement.
Beyond the kidnapping investigations, the police force handled cases involving armed robbery, murder, and theft. They successfully rescued ten children, recovered stolen livestock, and confiscated illegal items such as tramadol, cannabis, and various tools used in criminal activity. Commissioner Elleman emphasized that these efforts deal a major blow to local criminal networks and promised that the police will maintain pressure on remaining gang members while calling for continued public cooperation.
