Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a five-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for a series of abductions, extortions, and r0bberies along the Zaria–Kano Expressway in Kaduna and Kano States.
The Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi
Babawale, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the operation
followed multiple complaints from travellers and residents about the activities
of criminal gangs terr0rising commuters on the busy route.
Afolabi said that upon receiving the reports, the Commandant
General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the immediate arrest
and thorough investigation of the suspects.
The suspects were intercepted after a coordinated operation
targeting their hideouts.
He explained that the gang had specialized in luring
unsuspecting motorists under the guise of providing warnings about road dangers
before attacking and dispossessing them of valuables.
According to the statement, one of the vict!ms, Sani Ahmad,
a journalist, was attacked while driving along the Zaria–Kano road. The gang
allegedly flagged down his vehicle under the pretext that there was an
obstruction ahead.
“The victim was compelled to stop his vehicle, unaware that
he had already fallen into the hands of kidnappers. They forcibly took his
belongings, including mobile phones and cash,” he said.
Ahmad, in his statement to investigators, said he had
earlier dropped his friend, Mallam Haruna, his wife, and their child in Zaria
before continuing his journey to Kano.
"After insisting that I stopped the car, they invaded
my vehicle, picked my travelling bag, took two iPhone 12 Pro Max phones, a
Tecno Camon 40 Pro, and forced me to transfer N300,000 through my Opay account
to an Opay account — 9026238691 — bearing the name Abdullahi Lawan
Garba, which was provided by one Ibrahim Abubakar after firing a g^n to
threaten my life,” he recounted.
The five suspects, identified as Ibrahim Abubakar Garba,
Umar Fulani, Aliyu Mohammed, Murtala Salisu, and Imrana Hassan, all male, have
confessed to their involvement in the cr!me.
Recovered items from the suspects include, six mini
smartphones, one iPhone 12 Pro Max, one Tecno Camon 40 Pro (similar to the one
stolen from the v!ctim and sold to Imrana Hassan), several ATM cards belonging
to First Bank, GTBank, and Opay, one Samsung Galaxy A15, one Infinix X6531B, an
Itel keypad phone, wristwatches, ear pods, bangles, rings, and other personal
belongings.
The spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is ongoing
and assured that the suspects would be charged to court once the inquiry is
conclude
He also cautioned motorists and travellers to exercise
caution, particularly during night-time journeys, noting that criminal elements
are increasingly active as the Yuletide season approaches.
"We urge citizens to avoid late-night travel and remain
security-conscious. The Corps remains committed to safeguarding lives and
property,” he said.
The agency reaffirmed the NSCDC’s readiness to rid the
highways of cr!minal g@ngs and ensure a safe travel environment for
Nigerians.
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