Police arrest two notorious bandit, kidnapping kingpins in Kwara
The Nigeria Police has announced the arrest of two notorious bandits and kidnapping kingpins linked to violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states.
In a press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police disclosed that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), attached to Kwara State, carried out the arrests on Friday, December 19, 2025.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command, took place along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspects, identified as Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi ‘m’, 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide ‘m’, 30, were apprehended in Komen–Masallaci village during the operation.
Recovered items include a red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at ₦1,850,000, suspected to have been purchased with ransom proceeds; ₦500,000 in cash; and an AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are members of a gang responsible for terrorising communities across Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kwara states, and that the gang also supplies arms and ammunition to other criminal elements.
According to the police, both suspects are cooperating with investigators to facilitate the arrest of additional gang members and the recovery of further weapons. Abubakar Usman was recently identified in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives for their professionalism and dedication, reaffirming the force’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks. Members of the public are urged to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.
