The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested two suspects allegedly linked to the abduction of three newly passed-out military recruits in Zamfara State.
The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation carried out on August 1, 2026, following credible information received by the police.
The three military recruits were reportedly abducted in July along the Kwanan Mayanchi-Gurusu axis of Zamfara State.
The Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, identified the suspects as Abubakar Mallan Abubakar of Gargam Village, Bagega, in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and Usman Muhammadu of Ajera, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Abubakar said preliminary investigations had provided useful information about the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the three recruits.
He said one of the suspects made important disclosures to investigators during questioning, which could help the police in their efforts to uncover those behind the crime.
“The suspects were arrested on August 1, 2026, at about 6:15 a.m. in a targeted operation based on credible intelligence.
“During preliminary investigation, one of the suspects made useful disclosures regarding the abduction of the three military recruits,” the police spokesman said.
According to the police, one of the victims was identified as Kabiru Hassan, a native of Ribah in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The other two victims were said to be from Zuru Local Government Area, also in Kebbi State.
The police confirmed that all three military recruits had regained their freedom.
The command did not provide details of how the victims were rescued or whether any ransom was paid to secure their release.
The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The police said the investigation would help establish the full circumstances surrounding the abduction and determine the involvement of other persons who may have participated in the crime.
The development comes amid continued security concerns in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West, where criminal gangs have carried out kidnappings, attacks on communities and other violent crimes.
Zamfara has been one of the states worst affected by banditry and kidnapping in recent years. Criminal groups have attacked villages, abducted residents for ransom and disrupted farming and other economic activities in several parts of the state.
The state’s vast forests and difficult terrain have also been used by criminal groups as hideouts and bases from which they launch attacks on communities and travellers.
Major roads linking communities in Zamfara and neighbouring states have also faced security challenges, with travellers and other road users sometimes targeted by kidnappers.
The abduction of the three military recruits along the Kwanan Mayanchi-Gurusu axis therefore adds to the security challenges confronting the region.
The police, however, said the latest arrests demonstrated the importance of intelligence gathering in the fight against criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Umar Mohammed Hadejia, commended the officers and other operatives involved in the operation for successfully arresting the suspects.
Hadejia said the command would continue its efforts to identify and arrest everyone connected with the crime.
“The Kebbi State Police Command remains committed to identifying, arresting and prosecuting all persons connected with this case and other criminal activities,” he said.
He added that the command would continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations to protect residents and prevent criminal activities across the state.
“We will continue to intensify intelligence-led operations to ensure the safety and security of residents,” the commissioner said.
The latest arrests also highlight the growing use of intelligence-based policing by security agencies in tackling kidnapping and other crimes.
Rather than relying only on routine patrols, security agencies increasingly depend on information from residents, surveillance and cooperation between different security formations to identify suspects and disrupt criminal networks.
The police said information provided by members of the public remained important to the success of such operations.
The command therefore urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.
The appeal is particularly important in areas affected by banditry and kidnapping, where criminals often operate from remote locations and depend on local networks for information, movement and logistics.
Security agencies have repeatedly stressed that community support is necessary to identify criminal groups and prevent attacks before they occur.
For the families of the three military recruits, their release brings an end to the uncertainty that followed their abduction.
The victims, who had recently completed their military training, were reportedly travelling when they were kidnapped in Zamfara.
The police did not disclose whether the recruits had returned to military duty or whether they were receiving any form of support following their release.
The identities of the other two victims were also not made public beyond the information that they were from Zuru Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the police investigation is expected to focus on the suspects’ alleged roles in the abduction and their disclosures about the criminal network involved.
Investigators are also expected to establish whether the suspects were directly involved in the kidnapping or provided information, logistics or other assistance to the abductors.
The transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department is expected to allow for a more detailed investigation, including the questioning of the suspects and the gathering of evidence that could support prosecution.
The Kebbi police command said it remained determined to ensure that those responsible for the abduction were brought to justice.
The latest arrests will also be closely watched as security agencies continue efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry across the North-West.
While the release of the three recruits and arrest of two suspects are seen as positive developments, the wider security challenge remains significant.
Security agencies are expected to maintain pressure on criminal groups operating in Zamfara and neighbouring states, while residents are being encouraged to cooperate with the authorities.
The police said such cooperation would help strengthen ongoing efforts to prevent crime, protect communities and bring suspected criminals to justice.