19-year-old Abubakar Bature and five others have been arrested following their alleged involvement in kidnap and collecting over 42 million naira ransom from victims families.
Bature, 23 years old Yusuf Shuaibu, 19 years old Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman, 36 years old Abdul Kareem Nuhu and 28 years old Ahmed Musa, are believed to be members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Kaduna and its environs, with links to criminal camps in Rijana Forest.
According to Punch, the Nigeria Police Force arrested the six suspects and rescued several victims in Kaduna State following what it described as a major operational breakthrough.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, revealed that their arrests were carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad on April 3, 2026.
“The Nigeria Police Force, through the Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad, has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of six notorious kidnapping suspects and the rescue of victims in Kaduna State.
“Preliminary investigations showed the suspects were part of a well-organised criminal network.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a kidnapping syndicate operating within Kaduna State and its environs, with links to criminal camps located in Rijana Forest.”
The PPRO further disclosed that the syndicate was involved in the abduction 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 items, the victims were not released until police operatives intervened, leading to the successful rescue of the officer’s son unharmed. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the officer.
“The suspects are also linked to the abduction of other victims, including a young child and members of the same where a ransom of eighteen million naira (₦18,000,000) was collected before the victims were eventually rescued through police operations.”
The police spokesperson assured that “investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, rescue remaining victims, and recover the syndicate’s weapons.”
