Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in a counter-ambush have arrested 13 kidnappers and recovered 11 assorted rifles, with 89 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and operational motorcycles.
This was revealed in a press release by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday 24 March 2025.
According to NPF, operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on a special assignment to Edo State on March 11, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, encountered an ambush set by armed kidnappers at Oshara Ganden, a boundary area between Kogi and Edo States.
The operatives overpowered the armed assailants, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals.
“The suspects, identified as Tukur Salisu, Sani Abubakar, Mamud Sani, Umar Abdullahi, Salisu Mohammed, Salisu Usman, Bashir Audu, and Jibril Haruna, were found in possession of significant weaponry, including one AK-47 rifle with 29 rounds of live ammunition, one new Israeli pump action rifle with 4 cartridges, two pump action rifles with 72 cartridges, a single barrel shotgun with 2 cartridges, and two operational motorcycles,” NPF noted.
The release further showed that In a separate operation on January 27, 2025, the IRT operatives acted on credible intelligence to arrest Yakubu Musa, 30, and Usman Musa, 25, both from Kaduna State.
The suspects, according to the Police, were linked to a series of kidnappings and cattle rustling activities in the Soba and Ikara regions of the State. During their arrest, three AK-47 rifles and 19 rounds of live ammunition were recovered, further substantiating their involvement in criminal activities.
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Additionally, on January 21, 2025, three suspects—Abubakar Lawan (24), Isiaku Abdullahi (35), and Abbas Maisaude (26), were apprehended for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and kidnapping.
The suspects confessed to participating in multiple kidnapping incidents across Rijana, Lambata, Dandume, and Ugama in Kaduna and Niger States. Ine AK-49 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, and 28 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of their gang.
The Nigeria Police Force urged citizens to support the police by providing timely and accurate information, as their cooperation is vital in the fight against crime, adding that for those who choose a life of crime, the Force is resolute in its mission to attain justice. “There will be no sanctuary for criminals in Nigeria.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their bravery and dedication, emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and proactive measures in maintaining law and order.
