Kano Police Arrest 10 Suspects for Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Recover N4.8m Cash, Arms, Ammunition

The Kano State Police Command has successfully arrested 10 suspects involved in kidnapping and armed robbery operations, following a series of intelligence-driven operations. The arrests were made in compliance with directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, aimed at reducing crime across Nigeria. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, upon his assumption of office on March 17, 2025, reorganized the command’s intelligence and operational capabilities to address emerging threats, resulting in significant breakthroughs in crime prevention.

A statement issued by the Kano State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, revealed key details of the arrests and recovered items. On March 18, 2025, at about 11:00 pm, a distress call from a good Samaritan led police officers to a residence at Badawa Layout in Kano. The suspected armed robbers had attacked the occupants in an attempt to steal a motor vehicle and other valuables. Two suspects, Awwal Hassan Ibrahim, 29, and Suleiman Umar, 24, both from Jos Plateau State, were arrested, with a Beretta pistol loaded with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition recovered from them.

On the same day, at 11:00 am, the police responded to credible information about a suspect in possession of a rifle. The suspect, Shuaibu Yakubu, 25, also known as Dan Bula Bula, was arrested in Kadawa Mil-Tara Quarters, Kano. Upon searching his vehicle, an AK-47 rifle with 12 rounds of live ammunition, as well as a Pontiac Vibe car, was recovered. Yakubu confessed to being involved in several armed robbery incidents in Kano and Abuja.

Further investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects on March 19, 2025, at around 1:15 pm. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) apprehended Friday Bitrus, 25, and Daniel Samuel, 25, both from Zango Quarters, Kano. A locally made pistol with two live cartridges and a sharp axe were found on them.

Additionally, the police conducted a successful operation based on intelligence gathered from a kidnapping incident in Zakirai Town, Gabasawa LGA, Kano. The operation, which took place between March 11 and March 18, 2025, led to the arrest of five suspects: Tukur Lawal (20), Ado Usman (30), Sunusi Surajo (27), Ummulkhairi Ibrahim (19), and Habiba Shuaibu (18). The police rescued the kidnapped victim on March 17, 2025, and recovered a Dane Gun used in the crime, along with a cash sum of N4,850,000 from the suspects.

SP Kiyawa confirmed that all 10 suspects are currently undergoing investigation at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and will be charged in court once the investigations are completed.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the police officers involved in these operations and assured the public of the Command’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Kano State.