The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two suspected bandits linked to the kidnapping of newly passed out military recruits and other travellers in Zamfara State.
Sources confirmed the suspects were arrested in connection with the abduction of three soldiers who were kidnapped on July 2 2026 along the Gusau Anka road while travelling from Kaduna to Zuru Kebbi State after their passing out parade.
According to reports the soldiers were dropped off in Gusau late in the evening and directed to continue their journey the next morning. They boarded a commercial vehicle at Gusau motor park which was ambushed by heavily armed bandits near Anka. All passengers including the three recruits were abducted. Three other soldiers reportedly escaped but only one has been accounted for.
The kidnappers initially demanded 50 million naira ransom before reducing it to 5 million naira per victim.
Police preliminary investigation revealed that the two suspects belong to a gang terrorising communities across Zamfara Katsina Niger and Kwara States and also double as suppliers of arms and ammunition to other criminal groups.
Items recovered from them include one AK47 rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition a brand new Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at 1,850,000 naira purchased with ransom proceeds and 500,000 naira cash.
One of the suspects Abubakar Usman was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.
The Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the operatives for their professionalism and assured Nigerians of the Force commitment to dismantling kidnapping networks.
The suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to arrest other members and recover more weapons while efforts to rescue the abducted recruits continue.
