The Niger State Police Command has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate linked to armed robbery, abduction, m8rder in parts of the state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, arresting five suspects and recovering 10 AK-47 rifles.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed this during a press briefing in Minna on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
According to CP Elleman, the suspected gang leader, Samaila Ilya, alias Yakumujuri, was arrested on July 10 at Kpakungu Roundabout, Minna, after earlier escaping during a fierce gun battle with police operatives in Bwari, Abuja.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari.
The suspect also revealed how a member of the gang k!lled the son of a kidnapped woman and collected ransom before releasing her.
“Based on reports of incessant kidnapping around Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and Kaduna road within the early period of this year, the Command tactical teams were deployed to these areas and further intelligence received indicated that one Samaila Shefiu a.k.a Yakumujuri 45yrs of Barikin-Sale was among the kingpins terrorizing the above mentioned areas including Kubwa and Bwari areas of FCT, Abuja,” the CP said.
“The tactical team followed up to Samaila’s residence in Bwari in an attempt to arrest him and his gang, but a gun duel ensued between the tactical team and his gang members and the hoodlums escaped from the location.
“Fortunately, on July 10th 2026 at about 6pm, the said Samaila was arrested around Kpakungu roundabout with the aid of technical intelligence.
“During interrogation, he confessed to series of kidnapping in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari areas of Abuja.
“Investigation was extended to Sabon-Wuse where some of his gang members were located at Bwari hills, which led to another exchange of gunfire between the hoodlums and the Police team and when the enclave was searched, one AK-49 rifle was recovered with five rounds of live ammunitions.
“A week later, a team of VCRU were deployed to Gauraka for a tactical and rescue mission due to a report of a kidnapping incident in the area and in the course of this, three kidnapped victims were rescued and five other suspects were arrested;
“Amadu Abdullahi a.k.a Kachalla Baban-Tsoho, ‘m’ of Kidandam forest via Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.
“Adamu Abubakar ‘m’ of Igede village via Mashegu LGA.
“Mohammed Tasiu ’m’ of Kaduna road.
“Sani Shehu ‘m’ of Kaduna road.
“Bashir Aliyu a.k.a Kachalla Mallam of Kaduna road.
“Samaila further confessed that during one of their operations in Kubwa, where a woman and her son were kidnapped and while the woman was pleading for them not to k!ll her son, he stated that one of their member who is known as Yakubu presently at large shot the son d3ad and later released the woman after ransom was collected.
“He further narrated that two of their members known as Langalanga and Shafiu had an accident at Dikko junction where three AK-47 rifles and 104 rounds of live ammunition were recovered on February 17th, 2026.
“He added that other rifles were in the possession of one Kachalla Mallam and Baban-Tsoho which were buried in the bush and in a follow up investigation, two AK rifles buried in the bush around Gauraka forest were also recovered.
“Another two rifles were said to be in the possession of Yakubu and Babuga presently at large in which Samaila led the Police team to Bwari where two AK-49 rifles were also recovered with 36 rounds of live ammunition.
“All suspects are in custody undergoing further investigation and efforts to apprehend other accomplices are in progress.”
