Police nab 2 notorious bandit kingpins in Kwara, recover arms, ransom cash

The Nigeria Police Force has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against banditry and kidnapping with the arrest of two notorious kingpins believed to be responsible for a series of violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kwara states.

The high-profile arrests were confirmed on Friday in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.

According to the statement, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command, carried out a covert operation on Friday, December 19, 2025, along the Komen–Masallaci axis of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

During the operation, two suspected members of a dangerous banditry and kidnapping syndicate were intercepted and arrested. They were identified as Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi, aged 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide, aged 30. Both suspects were apprehended in Komen–Masallaci village, Kaiama LGA.

Items recovered from the suspects include a brand new red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at ₦1.85 million, which police said was purchased with proceeds from ransom payments; ₦500,000 in cash believed to be unspent ransom money; and one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are key members of a notorious banditry and kidnapping gang terrorising several communities across Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kwara states.

According to the statement, further findings also indicate that the gang is involved in supplying arms and ammunition to other criminal elements.

The police said both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators, a development expected to lead to the arrest of other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional weapons.

The Force also recalled that one of the suspects, Abubakar Usman, was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral social media video flaunting firearms and large sums of money.