Police Arrest Boko Haram, Lakurawa Terror Suspects, Rescue Kidnap Victim

Some Nigerian policemen

Police Arrest Boko Haram, Lakurawa Terror Suspects, Rescue Kidnap Victim

The Kebbi State Police Command has recorded significant security breakthroughs, arresting three suspected members of the Mamudawa Boko Haram sect, four suspected Lakurawa bandits, and several logistics suppliers across the state. The command also successfully rescued a kidnapped victim during the coordinated operations, according to a press briefing by the Commissioner of Police, Umar M. Hadejia, in Birnin Kebbi. CP Hadejia attributed the successes to intelligence-led policing and robust collaboration with other security agencies, vigilante groups, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF). The arrests are part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across Kebbi State, which has faced increasing threats from non-state armed groups operating in the North-West region.

On June 5, 2026, operatives of the Police Mobile Force attached to Illo Division in Bagudo Local Government Area, acting on credible intelligence while on patrol along the Illo-Lolo Road, intercepted and arrested three suspected members of the Mamudawa Boko Haram group. The suspects were identified as Muhammadu Bandi, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Abubakar. According to the police commissioner, the trio was arrested while riding a motorcycle to Lolo town, allegedly to procure food supplies for other members of the group. Preliminary investigation linked the suspects to movements around Illo during the attack that claimed the lives of three Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel on June 4, 2026. The motorcycle recovered from the suspects bore a foreign registration number, raising concerns about cross-border criminal networks operating in the area. The suspects and the recovered motorcycle will be prosecuted accordingly.

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In a separate operation on June 7, 2026, at about 4:30 p.m., Police Mobile Force personnel deployed on special duty along the Ka’oje-Bakin Ruwa Road in Bagudo Local Government Area arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa group. The suspects were identified as Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu. CP Hadejia stated that the suspects are being investigated over their alleged involvement in armed banditry activities within the SODA Forest in Bagudo, a known hideout for criminal elements. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Birnin Kebbi, for further investigation and potential prosecution.

The command also arrested a suspected logistics supplier to the Lakurawa terrorists in Zazzagawa Village, Argungu Local Government Area. The suspect, Murtala Sani, was apprehended on June 9, 2026, following intelligence reports that he supplied food items and beverages to members of the terrorist group. He was also alleged to have transported a suspected Lakurawa member to criminal hideouts on several occasions, providing critical support that enabled the group’s operations. The suspect is currently in custody and assisting the police in ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending other suspects still at large.

In a related development, the command arrested Ayuba Ibrahim, a resident of Bakin Ruwa in Bagudo Local Government Area, on June 11 for allegedly providing support to criminal elements operating in the area. During investigation, operatives recovered a pump-action rifle, three live cartridges, and a bag containing items suspected to be linked to criminal activities from his possession. The suspect is currently in custody while investigations continue. The police also arrested Aliyu Jibrin, 42, of Kwakware Village in Arewa Local Government Area, after recovering a locally made pistol from his possession during a patrol operation at Makera Market. These arrests demonstrate the command’s commitment to mopping up illegal weapons and disrupting the logistics networks that sustain criminal operations.

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On June 10, 2026, police operatives, supported by vigilantes and the Civilian JTF, rescued a kidnapped housewife, Asmau Isah, following an attack on her residence in the Bayan Forestry area of Birnin Kebbi. According to the commissioner, seven armed men invaded the residence, stole N220,000 and mobile phones before whisking the victim away to an unknown destination. Following a swift response by the joint security team, the victim was rescued unharmed and one suspect, Abubakar Siddi, was arrested. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang, and Siddi will be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.

In a related development, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma successfully repelled an attack by suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The operation was carried out around the Dogon Daji community, where troops encountered the terrorists during an offensive mission aimed at clearing criminal elements from the area. Military authorities said the terrorists engaged the advancing troops in a fierce gun battle but were eventually overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the Nigerian military, forcing them to abandon their positions and retreat. Items recovered during the operation included rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launch tubes, rocket-propelled grenades, several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two motorcycles, and other personal belongings abandoned by the fleeing terrorists. No casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation, which dealt a significant blow to terrorist capabilities in the area.

The arrests and military operations come amid a broader push by the Federal Government to combat insecurity across the country. The Nigerian Government recently arraigned over 600 individuals suspected of terrorist acts before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, declared that the government would “fight with every inch of our blood” to eliminate terrorism. “Let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated. We will fight with everything we have to make Nigeria a haven for everybody,” Fagbemi stated. He disclosed that 10 judges have been assigned exclusively to handle terrorism-related cases and have temporarily suspended all other judicial responsibilities to focus on the proceedings, signaling the government’s determination to prosecute terror cases to conclusion.

In another achievement, the Kebbi Police Command recovered a stolen Mercedes-Benz C200 through inter-command collaboration. The vehicle, which was stolen in Sokoto State, was recovered in Birnin Kebbi, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Ahmed Sa’adu, popularly known as Baga. The suspect and the recovered vehicle have been handed over to the Sokoto State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.

CP Hadejia commended the cooperation of security agencies, vigilante groups, and the Civilian JTF, describing their collaboration as vital to the ongoing fight against insurgency and banditry in the state. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive patrols and tactical operations across identified flashpoints to ensure the safety of residents. The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and continue sharing credible information with security agencies, assuring them that all reports would be treated confidentially. He reiterated the command’s dedication to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace throughout Kebbi State, calling on all stakeholders to support the security agencies in their collective efforts to restore lasting peace to the region.