Police Arrest Six Kidnap Suspects, Rescue Victims in Kaduna
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping with the arrest of six suspected members of a notorious criminal syndicate and the rescue of victims in Kaduna State.
The suspects—Yusuf Shuaibu (23), Abubakar Bature (19), Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman (19), Abdul Kareem Nuhu (36), and Ahmed Musa (28)—were apprehended on April 3, 2026, by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a kidnapping syndicate operating within Kaduna and surrounding areas, with links to criminal hideouts in the Rijana Forest.
According to police findings, the group was involved in multiple high-profile abductions, including the kidnapping of a senior police officer and his son in October 2025. The syndicate reportedly collected a ransom of ₦24 million and other valuables but failed to release the victims until police intervention led to the successful rescue of the officer’s son. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the officer.
The suspects have also been linked to the abduction of other victims, including a young child and members of the same family, where a ransom of ₦18 million was reportedly paid before they were rescued through coordinated police operations.
The police said investigations are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang, rescue remaining victims, and recover weapons used by the syndicate.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and enhancing security across the country.
Police Arrest Six Kidnap Suspects, Rescue Victims in Kaduna