The Nigeria Police Force, through its Force Intelligence Department–Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), has arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate and rescued several captives in Kaduna State.

The suspects, Yusuf Shuaibu, Abubakar Bature, Yau Murtala, Bello Suleiman, Abdul Kareem Nuhu, and Ahmed Musa were apprehended on 3 April 2026.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a kidnapping network operating across Kaduna State and its surrounding areas, with links to criminal camps in the Rijana Forest.

Further investigations revealed the group’s involvement in several high-profile abductions, including the kidnapping of a senior police officer and his son in October 2025.

Although the syndicate collected a ransom of N24 million and other valuables, the victims were not immediately released.

Police intervention eventually led to the safe rescue of the officer’s son, while efforts to secure the officer’s freedom remain ongoing.

The syndicate has also been linked to the abduction of other victims, including a young child and members of the same family.

In that case, a ransom of N18 million was paid before the victims were ultimately rescued through coordinated police operations.

The police say investigations are continuing, with efforts focused on apprehending other fleeing members of the syndicate, rescuing any remaining victims, and recovering weapons used in their operations.

Linus Aleke