N78 Million Solar Inverters, 410 Cattle, 10 Guns Recovered as Kaduna Police Arrest 25 Suspects

The Kaduna State Police Command has dealt a significant blow to criminal networks operating across the state, announcing the arrest of 25 suspects and the recovery of property valued at nearly N78 million during a two-week intelligence-led operation. Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, who addressed journalists at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna on Tuesday, described the crackdown as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, armed banditry, gunrunning, and counterfeit currency trafficking in the state. According to the police chief, the command successfully arrested 16 suspected kidnappers, three suspected gunrunners, and six individuals allegedly belonging to a syndicate dealing in fake United States dollar notes. The operations also led to the neutralisation of a notorious kidnap kingpin, further disrupting criminal activities in rural communities.

Recovered Items

The command recovered a wide range of stolen goods and illegal items during the operations, including 190 solar inverters valued at approximately N69 million, 10 lithium batteries worth about N9 million, 10 firearms of different calibres, 170 counterfeit US dollar notes, 83 packs of hard drugs, 32 stolen mobile phones, two plasma television sets, one stolen Toyota Sienna vehicle, 410 rustled cattle, and an additional 80 cattle and 10 sheep abandoned by fleeing rustlers. The solar equipment, which formed the bulk of the recovered property, was traced to a warehouse in Zaria. Preliminary investigations revealed that the inverters and batteries were stolen from a container while in transit to Zaria, and the police are working to track down other members of the theft network.

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In one of the most notable arrests, police apprehended Aisha Barau, a 20-year-old woman, in Ramin Kura Village while she was allegedly attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollar notes for local currency. During interrogation, Barau reportedly confessed that the fake currency was supplied to her by Abdullahi Muhammad and Danbala Jibrin. Her statement led operatives to the other members of the syndicate, who are now in custody and assisting with investigations. The Commissioner warned members of the public to be vigilant when accepting foreign currency, as the syndicate had been operating in the area for some time.

In a cross-border operation, the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested three suspected gunrunners in Jos, Plateau State, following credible intelligence. The suspects—Luka Samuel, John Paul, and Musa Elisha—were found in possession of two locally fabricated pistols. During interrogation, the trio confessed to supplying firearms and ammunition to bandits operating across different parts of Northern Nigeria. CP Muhammad stated that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the gunrunning network, which is believed to have supplied weapons used in several kidnappings and attacks in Kaduna and neighbouring states.

Recovered Items

After months of surveillance, police operatives working alongside the ‘Yan Sa Kai vigilante group arrested Abdullahi Mohammed, popularly known as “Aala,” a suspected kidnap kingpin. Mohammed confessed to masterminding multiple kidnapping operations in Kuzuntu Village, Ikara Local Government Area, and other surrounding communities. He also admitted to participating in the killing of two vigilante members during an attack last year. A AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspect, who is now in police custody and will face multiple charges, including murder and kidnapping.

In a separate development, police recovered a Toyota Sienna vehicle that was stolen from the premises of a Juma’at Mosque in Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna. The vehicle was traced to Zaria, where one Mohammed Shehu was arrested. Shehu’s confession led detectives to Zakari Abubakar, who allegedly specialised in manufacturing duplicate vehicle keys used by car thieves. The command is investigating whether the duo is linked to a larger vehicle theft syndicate operating in the state.

Police operatives also engaged suspected cattle rustlers in a gun battle after they attacked Damanko Village in Zaria Local Government Area. The suspects fled into the bush, abandoning 80 cattle and 10 sheep they had stolen. Two livestock owners who sustained injuries during the attack were rushed to a nearby hospital and are currently receiving treatment. The command has intensified patrols in the area to prevent further attacks.

The police also arrested two suspected drug suppliers—Alex Odoh and Daniel Eze—for allegedly supplying hard drugs to bandits operating around Kasuwar Magani. A large quantity of illicit substances worth millions of naira was recovered from the suspects, who reportedly confessed to supplying drugs to criminal groups. The command believes the arrests will significantly disrupt the drug supply chain feeding banditry in the region.

Commissioner Muhammad commended the officers, vigilante groups, and other security agencies involved in the operations, and assured residents that the command would continue to collaborate with the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilantes to tackle insecurity. He urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could help prevent crime and improve public safety. “The fight against crime is a collective responsibility,” Muhammad said. “We cannot do it alone. We need the cooperation of every citizen.” All suspects are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon the completion of investigations, the Commissioner confirmed.

N78 Million Solar Inverters, 410 Cattle, 10 Guns Recovered as Kaduna Police Arrest 25 Suspects

Troops arrest four suspected Boko Haram, ISWAP suppliers, intercept 20 relatives

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested four people suspected of supplying logistics to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during separate intelligence-led operations in Borno and Yobe states.

The troops also intercepted 20 people believed to be relatives of Boko Haram members who reportedly fled their settlement following sustained military offensives against terrorist groups across the North-East.

The arrests were made on Monday as troops intensified efforts to disrupt the supply networks of insurgent groups and prevent them from accessing food, drugs, communication devices and other essential materials.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said two suspects were arrested during a cordon-and-search operation in Geidam, Yobe State.

According to the military, preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly supplied hard drugs and other logistics to Boko Haram fighters operating in the area.

Items recovered from the suspects included substances suspected to be Indian hemp, several mobile phones, power banks, knives, torchlights, lighters, cigarette rolls, Pregabalin capsules, cough syrup, identity cards, ATM cards and N14,530 in cash.

The military said the recovered items would be examined further as investigations continue into the suspects’ alleged activities and possible links to terrorist support networks.

In a separate operation in Monguno, Borno State, troops working alongside personnel of the 242 Reconnaissance Battalion arrested two other suspects accused of supplying food and other essential items to ISWAP fighters.

Military authorities said the suspects allegedly admitted during interrogation that they transported food items and other supplies to insurgents operating around Kwatan Dowoshi village in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

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Items recovered during the operation included cartons of biscuits, Peak milk, sugar, sachets of garri, bars of soap, headlamps, lighters, mobile phones, an assault knife, herbal medicine, prayer beads, a charm belt and N6,600 in cash.

The military said the operations formed part of ongoing efforts to weaken the logistical networks that support Boko Haram and ISWAP activities across the North-East.

Security agencies have identified the movement of food, drugs, fuel, communication devices and other supplies as an important part of the support structure that enables terrorist groups to sustain operations in remote locations.

Meanwhile, troops on routine patrol along the Gezuwa axis of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State intercepted 20 people identified as suspected relatives of members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram.

The group comprised nine women, two men and nine children.

According to the military, the individuals told investigators that they left their settlement after troops intensified operations against terrorist elements in the area.

The intercepted people were handed over to the 21 Military Intelligence Regiment for profiling and further assessment.

The military said the four arrested suspects and the recovered exhibits were also undergoing further investigation.

The latest operations come amid sustained military efforts to degrade Boko Haram and ISWAP capabilities across Borno, Yobe and other parts of the North-East.

Operation HADIN KAI has continued intelligence-led raids, patrols and clearance operations aimed at disrupting terrorist movements, cutting off supply routes and identifying suspected collaborators.

The military urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, noting that public cooperation remains important to efforts to protect communities and strengthen security across the region.

Troops arrest four suspected Boko Haram, ISWAP suppliers, intercept 20 relatives

State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline

The Presidential Working Group on State Policing has opened a two-week public submission window for memoranda and policy proposals, setting the stage for a landmark legal framework that could redefine security architecture across Nigeria.

The Federal Government has officially called on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, civil society organisations, security agencies, academics, professional bodies, and sub-national governments to contribute to the drafting of the proposed National Policing Bill, which seeks to establish a legal and operational framework for state police in Nigeria. The call was made public on Monday by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, following a high-level meeting at the State House, Abuja. The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that all submissions will be reviewed and integrated into the draft bill, which will then be subject to further national consultation before being finalised and sent to the National Assembly. The development comes weeks after the National Assembly passed the bill following its transmission by President Bola Tinubu, signalling strong political will to actualise one of the most debated governance reforms in Nigeria’s recent history.

This public consultation exercise is critical because the Working Group is currently reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations, and other relevant laws to develop a modern, effective, and accountable policing system. The proposed framework is expected to set national minimum standards for policing across all states, define state readiness and certification requirements before any state can operate its own police service, and clarify jurisdictional responsibilities between federal and state police forces. Additionally, the bill will ensure independent oversight and safeguard human rights, guarantee sustainable funding and financial accountability, and prevent the use of state police as a tool for political persecution – a concern earlier raised by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who stressed that the legislation is designed to protect citizens from potential abuses of power at the sub-national level.

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Nigerians have until August 13, 2026, to submit their memoranda and policy proposals through the dedicated portal at www.nationalpolicingbill.com, marking the close of a two-week submission window. The Presidential Working Group has adopted a seven-week, milestone-driven work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the draft Executive Bill scheduled for presentation to President Bola Tinubu on September 3, 2026. Following this, national consultations will be held on the completed draft before it is finalised and transmitted to the National Assembly. All Nigerians, including professionals, academics, security experts, state and local governments, and civil society groups, are encouraged to participate in this historic policy-shaping process.

The new policing framework will impose strict operational readiness requirements on any state seeking to establish its own police service. According to Gbajabiamila, a proposed State Police Service must demonstrate credible arrangements in recruitment and vetting processes, training and capacity development, pay, pensions and welfare, equipment and logistics, custody and detention standards, complaints and discipline mechanisms, data management and reporting, firearms control and regulation, independent oversight bodies, and financial sustainability plans before it begins policing. These stringent criteria are designed to ensure that only states with the institutional capacity and financial resilience can operate their own police forces, thereby preventing a patchwork of poorly equipped or unaccountable state-level security services.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, represented by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, has described the state police initiative as one of the defining reforms of President Tinubu’s administration, expressing the forum’s commitment to ensuring the success of the policy. The Working Group is also considering recommending federal grants to assist states with limited financial capacity in establishing their police services, acknowledging the fiscal disparities among the 36 states. States that are not yet ready to establish their own service will continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the required standards, ensuring that no state is left without adequate security coverage during the transition period.

The final submission to the President will go beyond a conventional bill and is expected to include schedules and explanatory memoranda, a legal audit of existing policing laws, a state readiness framework, a fiscal and implementation note, and a risk register with transition arrangements. This comprehensive approach is designed to ensure that the reform is defensible, auditable, and capable of implementation across Nigeria’s diverse states, addressing everything from constitutional alignment to practical logistics on the ground.

The government has emphasised that this is a people-driven process, and by inviting input from all segments of society – including ordinary citizens, diaspora communities, and professional bodies – the Working Group aims to build a policing system that reflects the aspirations and realities of all Nigerians. As a senior official close to the Working Group noted, this is not just a government bill but a national project in which every Nigerian has a stake in how they are policed. Interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to visit www.nationalpolicingbill.com before August 13, 2026, to submit their memoranda and policy proposals, with all submissions to be reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill ahead of further national consultations.

State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline