Kano Police Arrest Suspected Kidnapper Linked to Cross-Border Criminal Syndicate.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Northern Bureau Chief
September 22, 2026.
The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Habibu Bello, who is suspected of belonging to a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling across Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states.
The arrest, according to the command, represents a significant breakthrough in its ongoing intelligence-led operations along the borders linking Kano with neighbouring states.
Bello, who is reportedly from Kunkumi Town in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested on September 14, 2026, at about 4:48 p.m. by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad following what the police described as credible intelligence.
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The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, saying the suspect was allegedly a member of a syndicate operating across the three states.
According to the police, investigation following Bello’s arrest subsequently led to the arrest of another suspected member of the syndicate, identified as Mudam, a resident of Kwanar Dangora in Kano State.
The command alleged that Bello confessed to involvement in several kidnapping incidents and cattle-rustling activities.
Among the incidents mentioned by the police was the alleged abduction of Hajiya Binta of Kwanar Dangora, for which a ransom of N20 million was reportedly paid.
The police further alleged that the suspect was linked to the kidnapping of a household in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, where ransom was also allegedly collected.
Beyond kidnapping, the command said its investigation linked the suspect to cattle-rustling activities across Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states.
In a related development, the Kano State Police Command said its operatives recovered a cine-camera drone marked GT 50 during a separate clearance operation at Hawan Tarau village in Bebeji Local Government Area.
The drone was reportedly found lying on the ground on September 17, 2026, during security operations in the area.
The police have commenced investigations to determine the source of the drone, establish its ownership and ascertain whether it has any connection with criminal activities in the area.
The recovery has added another dimension to the security operation, particularly as authorities continue to investigate the activities and networks of criminal groups operating across state boundaries.
The latest arrests come amid intensified security operations around the Kano-Kaduna and Kano-Katsina border areas, where criminal groups can exploit difficult terrain and jurisdictional boundaries to evade security agencies.
The Kano Police Command said the operations are part of sustained interstate patrols and clearance operations, with the objective of denying criminal elements safe havens and disrupting their networks.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led policing.
Bakori also stressed the importance of cooperation between security agencies and neighbouring police commands in tackling criminal activities that transcend state boundaries.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate and recover weapons reportedly used in their operations.
The police have also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.
The arrest of Bello and the subsequent apprehension of another suspected member underscore the importance of intelligence gathering, community cooperation and coordinated security operations in confronting kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes affecting communities in the region.
However, the allegations against the suspects remain subject to further investigation and due process before any determination of criminal responsibility by a court.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper September 22, 2026
