Kebbi police arrests 47 suspects, recovers arms,ammunition.

From : Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi 

The Kebbi state Police Command has arrested no fewer than 47 suspects and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in sustained operations against violent crimes across the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Hadejia, made this known on Monday in Birnin Kebbi at a press briefing on the command’s activities and achievements since he assumed duty on Jan. 12, 2026.

Mr Hadejia said the command had also established a Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU), approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan-Disu, to strengthen rapid response and consolidate gains in the fight against insecurity.

He noted that the state had, within the period under review, faced challenges such as armed banditry, cattle rustling, motorcycle snatching and threats from Lakurawa elements along border corridors.

According to him, the command responded by strengthening joint operations with other security agencies, deepening community policing structures and intensifying intelligence-led patrols.

“These strategies have yielded significant operational successes, which we are presenting today,” he said.

Hadejia said that on April 29, at about 4:00 p.m., operatives on patrol along the Bena–Mai Rai Rai Road intercepted and arrested two suspected bandits.

He identified the suspects as Aliyu Hussaini, 23, of Minna in Niger, and Sani Abubakar, 28, of Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara.

Items recovered from them, he said, included 36 rounds of live assault rifle ammunition, one magazine, a Bajaj motorcycle, N264,000 cash, nine memory cards, four SIM cards, three Android phones and one keypad phone.

“The suspects have confessed to terrorising villages along that axis and are currently in custody for further investigation,” he said.

Hadejia further said that on May 1, at about 1:00 a.m., a patrol team along Amburusa–Sanyinna Road foiled an attempted motorcycle snatching.

He said two suspects, Hussaini Abubakar and one Ukasha Bande, 30, were arrested while attempting to snatch a Bajaj motorcycle from one Nasiru Alhassan.

“The victim sustained injuries inflicted with a sharp object and is currently receiving treatment at Amburusa Hospital. The suspects have been apprehended and the case is under investigation,” he said.

Similarly, the commissioner said that on May 2, at about 6:00 a.m., police operatives attached to Kalgo Division arrested a suspect, Ashiru Muhammad, 20, in connection with a motorcycle snatching incident.

He said the suspect confessed to attacking a victim along the Masalaci Zarya–Jega Road, in collaboration with two accomplices who are currently at large.

“The victim is receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Jega, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

Providing a summary of achievements between January and May 2026, Hadejia said the command recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, eight fabricated AK-47 rifles, two Mack-four rifles and several other firearms.

He added that 1,229 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition, 29 rounds of machine gun ammunition, 40 live cartridges and other munitions were also recovered.

According to him, the command recovered seven motorcycles, returned 15 stolen motorcycles to their owners and rescued rustled cattle in separate operations.

He said 33 cattle were recovered during a joint operation with the Nigerian Army along Kamba–Kangiwa Road, where one bandit was neutralised, while additional recoveries were made in follow-up operations.

The commissioner further disclosed that 40 stolen mobile phones were recovered, alongside SIM cards and devices used by criminal elements, now undergoing forensic analysis.

Hadejia attributed the successes to the commitment of personnel, effective collaboration with sister security agencies and support from the public.

He urged commercial motorcycle operators to be vigilant and avoid conveying suspicious persons to isolated locations, noting that such tactics were commonly used by criminals."Riders are advised to report any suspicious movement". He concluded.