The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested two suspected bandits and kidnapping kingpins responsible for violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Friday, the suspects were arrested on December 19 along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The FPRO said the suspects, Abubakar Usman and Shehu Mohammadu, were arrested in a covert operation carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department attached to Kwara State, in collaboration with operatives of the state police.
Hundeyin added that Usman was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.
“During the operation, items valued at N1,850,000.00 were recovered, which investigations revealed was purchased with proceeds of ransom payments.
Others include N500,000.00 cash, being unspent ransom money; and one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.
Hundeyin added that further findings indicate that the gang also doubles as suppliers of arms and ammunition to criminal elements. Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to enable the arrest of other members of the syndicate and the recovery of additional weapons.