The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a five-man k!dn@pping syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of abductions, extortions, and r0bberies along the Zaria–Kano Expressway in Kaduna and Kano States.
The Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the operation followed multiple complaints from travellers and residents about the activities of crim!nal g@ngs terr0rising commuters on the busy route.
Afolabi said that upon receiving the reports, the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the immediate arrest and thorough investigation of the suspects.
The suspects were intercepted after a coordinated operation targeting their hideouts.
He explained that the g@ng had specialised in luring unsuspecting motorists under the guise of providing warnings about road d@ngers before att@cking and dispossessing them of valuables.
According to the statement, one of the vict!ms, Sani Ahmad, a journalist, was attacked while driving along the Zaria–Kano road. The g@ng allegedly flagged down his vehicle under the pretext that there was an obstruction ahead.
“The vict!m was compelled to stop his vehicle, unaware that he had already fallen into the hands of k!dnappers. They forcibly took his belongings, including mobile phones and cash,” he said.
Ahmad, in his statement to investigators, said he had earlier dropped his friend, Mallam Haruna, his wife, and their child in Zaria before continuing his journey to Kano.
“After insisting that I stopped the car, they invaded my vehicle, picked my travelling bag, took two iPhone 12 Pro Max phones, a Tecno Camon 40 Pro, and forced me to transfer N300,000 through my Opay account to an Opay account — 9026238691 — bearing the name Abdullahi Lawan Garba, which was provided by one Ibrahim Abubakar after firing a g^n to threaten my life,” he recounted.
The five suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, Umar Fulani, Aliyu Mohammed, Murtala Salisu, and Imrana Hassan, all male, have confessed to their involvement in the cr!me.
Recovered items from the suspects include, six mini smartphones, one iPhone 12 Pro Max, one Tecno Camon 40 Pro (similar to the one stolen from the v!ctim and sold to Imrana Hassan), several ATM cards belonging to First Bank, GTBank, and Opay, one Samsung Galaxy A15, one Infinix X6531B, an Itel keypad phone, wristwatches, ear pods, bangles, rings, and other personal belongings.
The spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and assured that the suspects would be charged to court once the inquiry is concluded.
He also cautioned motorists and travellers to exercise caution, particularly during night-time journeys, noting that criminal elements are increasingly active as the Yuletide season approaches.
“We urge citizens to avoid late-night travel and remain security-conscious. The Corps remains committed to safeguarding lives and property,” he said.
The agency reaffirmed the NSCDC’s readiness to rid the highways of cr!minal g@ngs and ensure a safe travel environment for Nigerians.
