Police uncover staged kidnap, foil arms deal, and arrest cyber fraud suspects in joint raids.
From Katsina to Jigawa, swift operations highlight growing momentum in Nigeria’s crime crackdown.
The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a four-year-old girl from a staged kidnapping plot, arrested a group of suspected cyber fraudsters, and intercepted an arms trafficker, in a series of intelligence-driven operations across multiple states.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, these operations reflect ongoing efforts by the police to strengthen internal security and dismantle criminal networks nationwide.
In Katsina State, police operatives successfully uncovered a disturbing case involving the staged abduction of a young girl. The case began on February 20, 2025, when a resident, Alhaji Badamasi Bala of Madaci Yan Nono Quarters, reported the disappearance of his 14-year-old daughter and her four-year-old sister. Months later, the older girl returned and confessed to orchestrating the kidnapping with three accomplices aged 25, 19, and 16.
“All suspects involved in the conspiracy have been arrested and the younger child has been safely rescued, unharmed,” the police spokesperson said.
In another operation in Nasarawa State, police intercepted a suspicious motorcycle along the Giza–Kadarko Road in Keana Local Government Area after receiving intelligence on possible arms trafficking. The rider abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush upon sighting the police. A search of the motorcycle revealed an AK-47 rifle, two loaded magazines, and 45 rounds of live ammunition.
Efforts are underway to track down the fleeing suspect.
Meanwhile, in Jigawa State, a joint security team conducted a raid on June 13, 2025, targeting two villages Kankare and Zurkuda in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area and arrested seven individuals allegedly involved in large-scale financial fraud.
Recovered items from the suspects included $46,100 in counterfeit U.S. currency, four POS machines, thirteen Android phones, twenty-nine keypad phones, six power banks, two vehicle plate numbers, and several documents believed to be connected to electronic fraud.
All suspects are currently in police custody and investigations are ongoing.
ACP Adejobi said the coordinated efforts are part of a broader strategy by the Nigeria Police Force to tackle criminality using intelligence gathering, rapid response, and community partnership.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, called on citizens to remain law-abiding and support security agencies by staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activities. He emphasized that public cooperation is vital to achieving lasting peace and safety across the country.
