Police arrest suspected kidnapper in Gombe, rescue three abducted victims

One of the recovered items. Photo: Gombe State Police Command.

The Gombe State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, rescued three abducted victims and recovered 2,500 sachets of Tramadol capsules in separate operations across the state.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Chuso.

According to the statement, the breakthrough followed a joint clearance operation conducted on September 8, 2026, by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups and hunters.

The operation, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Dukku, was carried out around suspected criminal hideouts in Kowagel, Dukku Local Government Area, and parts of Bojude, Kwami LGA.

The police said the operation led to the arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper, identified as Manu Alhaji Sani, alias ‘M’, 30, of Wawa Village, Funakaye LGA.

“During preliminary investigations, the suspect confessed to having been involved in several kidnapping activities across Dukku, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas, in collaboration with other members of his criminal syndicate, who are currently at large,” the statement said.

Following the arrest and confession, the joint team intensified its search and clearance operations in the surrounding areas, forcing members of the criminal syndicate to abandon three abducted victims.

The rescued victims were identified as Hauwa Alhaji Sani, 44; Aishatu Alhaji Sani, 16; and Umaru Alhaji Sani, two, all residents of Jonde Village, Dukku LGA.

The police also recovered a Honda motorcycle with registration number BBB 29 UT and three keypad mobile phones during the operation.

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The command said efforts had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network.

In a separate development on the same day, at about 9 am, operatives attached to the Safer Highway Patrol, in collaboration with Operation Hattara, intercepted a blue Peugeot 406 with registration number YDB 48 FL along the Liji-Biu Road.

The police said the operatives acted on credible intelligence and arrested one Mohammed Abdullahi, alias ‘Babangida’, 37, of Bomala Quarter, Gombe.

A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 2,500 sachets of 100mg Tramadol capsules.

“The suspect and exhibits are in police custody, while investigation is ongoing,” the statement added.

The command commended the operatives for the “effective collaboration” demonstrated during the exercise, as well as their “vigilance, courage, resilience, and swift response to credible intelligence.”

CP Chuso reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining “intelligence-led and proactive operations” against banditry, kidnapping, illicit drug trafficking and other criminal activities across the state.