Police arrest suspected kidnappers, armed robbers in Jigawa, Nasarawa

Police have arrested suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle rustlers and thieves and recovered firearms, stolen livestock and other exhibits in separate operations in Jigawa and Nasarawa states. The Jigawa State Police Command said it arrested several suspects involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and theft across different parts of the state between May 22 and May 29, 2026. The command’s spokesperson, Shi’isu Lawan Adam, in a statement, said the operations led to the recovery of a fabricated AK-47 rifle, three motorcycles, six sheep, and other items. The suspects were identified as Musa “Kala,” 45, of Fateka Settlement; Manu Abdullahi, 30, of Mashin Bura Village in Malam Madori LGA; and Yusuf Ibrahim, 35, of Marke Village in Kaugama LGA. In another operation, two suspects allegedly planning to kidnap residents of Jama’are in neighbouring Bauchi State were arrested. They were identified as Adamu Gari, 55, and Abdullahi Adamu, 40. The command said they were currently assisting investigators. Elsewhere, operatives arrested two suspected sheep thieves, Mustapha Badamasi, 30, and Khalid Zubairu, 20, while four stolen sheep and a Bajaj motorcycle were recovered. Two suspected cattle rustlers were also arrested in Taura LGA with additional stolen livestock. In a separate development in Nasarawa State, police arrested two suspects for alleged theft, conspiracy and unlawful possession of a firearm in Keffi Local Government Area. Police spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the arrest followed a complaint from a resident of Kofar Hausa on May 30, 2026, reporting the theft of an Android phone after a break-in. Acting on the report, detectives arrested Shafiu Abdul-Rauf and Usman Abdulmumuni, both residents of Mayanka, Keffi. A search of the suspects led to the recovery of a locally made pistol loaded with a live cartridge, two cutlasses, a knife, two Android phones, an Itel phone, a bunch of keys and other suspected stolen items.