The Niger State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating along the Suleja and Kontagora axes, with links to Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states. The suspects allegedly used private vehicles to lure victims under the guise of offering lifts before drugging and abducting them to hideouts in neighbouring states, according to the command's spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun.
Investigation Launched After May Report
The investigation began after a case of criminal conspiracy and suspected kidnapping was reported at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna on May 14, 2026. The case involved a woman and her infant who were allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen in Suleja on February 7, 2026, while the woman was on her way to the market.
Two days after the abduction, on February 9, 2026, at about 9:20 p.m., the victim's relatives received a phone call from a strange number demanding N50 million ransom to secure her release. The relatives sourced funds and raised N9.5 million, which was paid in instalments into three different bank accounts bearing different names. Despite the payment, the victim was not released, and the abductors allegedly threatened to kill her.
Victim Escapes, Suspects Arrested
Fortunately, the victim managed to escape, leaving behind personal belongings including her phone, ATM card and other items. It was later discovered that the hoodlums exploited the victim's abandoned banking details to demand a ransom of N10.5 million from another woman abducted from Shagari, Sokoto State, while she was travelling to visit her husband in the Kontagora area of Niger State.
On receipt of the report, detectives from the command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit commenced intensive investigation and analysis of the accounts through which ransom payments were made. One Amira Yusuf Aliyu, 23, of Kano State, was arrested on July 2, 2026. During interrogation, she claimed she was deceived by one Mustapha Yusuf, the suspected leader of the syndicate who is at large. She added that Mustapha lured her to Sokoto under the pretext of introducing her to his family with a promise of marriage, but subsequently abducted her and used her account details to demand ransom from her parents.
More Suspects Apprehended
Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of Abdullahi Garba, also known as Zidane, 40, of Sokoto State, on July 26, 2026. He was arrested at the residence where Amira was kept after her abduction. During interrogation, Abdullahi admitted knowledge of the incident but claimed that Mustapha had also deceived him into believing that Amira was his fiancée and had used his phone to communicate with her parents without his knowledge.
Further investigative efforts led to the arrest of Ibrahim Mohammed Kote, 37, and Maijida Abubakar Yusuf, 26, both of Kano State, on August 7 and August 10, 2026 respectively. Findings revealed that Ibrahim is the brother-in-law of the suspected kingpin and had stood as a surety for him when Mustapha was arrested and detained by another security agency in Kano. Maijida was also identified as a member of the syndicate and wife of Mustapha. Her account was reportedly used to receive several ransom payments from victims, which she confessed to, adding that proceeds from the criminal activities were used, among other things, to purchase a Honda Civic vehicle, renovate her room and acquire household items.
Charms Recovered, More Suspects Sought
In a further breakthrough, another top member of the syndicate, Abdullahi Sani, also known as Samaila Atulu, 40, of Zamfara State, was arrested in Zaria on August 19, 2026. When searched, assorted charms were recovered in his possession. During interrogation, he confessed to using the charms to defraud members of the public under the guise of providing spiritual assistance and subsequently arranged with Mustapha for some of his clients to be kidnapped. He was later identified during an identification parade at the Police Command Headquarters by a victim, who pointed him as one of the persons involved in the abduction of her and her baby in Suleja.
Following the disappearance of the second victim from Shagari, Sokoto State, another suspect, Bello Shehu, 22, of Gangam Village, Shagari LGA, Sokoto State, was arrested on reasonable suspicion of providing information about the victim's whereabouts to Mustapha, with whom he was acquainted.
The investigation has so far resulted in the arrest of six suspects, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the alleged syndicate leader, Mustapha Yusuf, and two other members identified as Jafar and Fatima, who are currently at large. The suspects are in police custody undergoing further investigation and interrogation as the command intensifies efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover other relevant evidence, after which the case will be charged to court for prosecution.
The Police Command reassures members of the public of its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protecting lives and property by bringing perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information that may assist ongoing efforts to combat crime and criminality in the state.
