Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe

• Operation HADIN KAI troops and local hunters conduct coordinated intelligence-led raid in Jegalari Village, recover firearms and mobile phones as military intensifies crackdown on criminal networks in North-East

Troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), working alongside members of the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested five suspected kidnappers during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in Jegalari Village, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State, in a major breakthrough that underscores the military’s renewed commitment to dismantling criminal networks operating across the North-East region.

The operation, which was carried out on July 23, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., involved troops of the 233 Battalion based at the Damaturu Military Cantonment and followed credible intelligence indicating the activities of suspected criminal elements within the community, according to security expert Zagazola Makama, who first disclosed the operation on social media. The successful raid came after days of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the suspected kidnappers’ hideout, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaboration between military forces and local security stakeholders.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Hassan Lawan (28), Isah Bello (30), Haruna Suleiman (20), Ibrahim Bello (20), and Ahmadu Haruna (19) , with preliminary investigation revealing that the suspects are indigenes of Ririn Village in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State. The suspects, who identified themselves as members of the Fulani ethnic group and claimed to be cattle rearers, are now in military custody as investigations continue into their alleged involvement in kidnapping and other criminal activities that have terrorized communities in Yobe State and surrounding areas.

READ ALSO:

• “No Governor Has Such Power” – MC Oluomo Fires Back at Gov Adeleke Over Osun NURTW Ban
• Police Detain 4 Officers Over Viral Ethnic Profiling Video on Lagos–Benin Expressway
• Atiku denies Obasanjo’s N5m bribery claim, links accusation to 2027 presidential race

During the operation, security personnel recovered a significant cache of weapons and items, including three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, one locally made pistol, two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, three Tecno mobile phones, and one Android phone . The recovery of these weapons, particularly the locally fabricated rifles, suggests a sophisticated level of arms manufacturing or acquisition that raises concerns about the proliferation of illegal firearms in the region and the potential connection of the suspects to larger criminal syndicates.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Friday, the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the raid followed actionable intelligence on the activities of the suspected criminal elements, adding that the suspects and the recovered exhibits have been taken into military custody for further investigation to determine their involvement in kidnapping and other related criminal activities. Goni reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its commitment to denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North East through sustained intelligence-driven operations that target not only Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists but also the growing threat of kidnapping and banditry affecting communities in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states.

According to security sources, the security situation in the area has been calm following the operation, although security forces remain on alert to prevent any retaliatory or related criminal activities, reflecting the military’s awareness that such operations often trigger reprisal attacks or the relocation of criminal elements to other areas. The successful operation forms part of ongoing intelligence-driven efforts by Operation HADIN KAI and other security stakeholders to dismantle kidnapping and criminal networks operating across the North-East and adjoining states, with the military increasingly adopting a proactive rather than reactive approach to security threats in the region.

The military also appealed to residents to remain alert and continue supporting security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent criminal activities, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital to the success of counter-insurgency and anti-crime operations. “Timely and credible information from law-abiding citizens remains critical to ongoing efforts to safeguard communities and enhance security across the region,” the statement added, underscoring the military’s recognition that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through partnership between security forces and the communities they serve. Local community leaders in Fune LGA have welcomed the operation, expressing hope that the arrests will bring relief to residents who have lived in fear of kidnapping attacks in recent months.

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe