The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and recovered N1.045 million allegedly being part of a ransom payment.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
According to Abiodun, the suspects, Aliyu Muhammad Bodo, 23, and Tukur Hassan Ali, 22, were arrested during a joint rescue operation around a forest near Tanangi village, via Kasanga, in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
The operation was conducted on August 14 by security agencies and local vigilantes following a kidnapping incident in the area.
Six victims were reportedly rescued during the operation, while a subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 Android phones belonging to the victims, five keypad phones, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, a brown bag and N1,045,200.
The police said the case was transferred from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Police Command on August 17 and subsequently referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, for further investigation.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to conspiring with other members of their gang identified as Smallie, Tashaka, Dan-Sarki and Turo, who are currently at large.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that the gang kidnapped 10 victims along the Tegina-Makera Road and collected N14 million in ransom.
They also allegedly confessed to having access to one AK-47 rifle and three pump-action rifles, which they claimed were in the possession of their accomplices and used to carry out kidnapping operations.
The police said some of the rescued victims subsequently identified the suspects during an identification parade at the SCID in Minna.
The two suspects remain in police custody and are undergoing further interrogation to assist investigators in apprehending other members of the gang.
The command said the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after the investigation is concluded.
