The Nigeria Police Force has scored a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of two notorious bandits and kidnapping kingpins linked to violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kwara States.
Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), working in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command, arrested the suspects on Friday, December 19, 2025, during a covert operation along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area.
Police identified the suspects as Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi, aged 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide, aged 30.
Operatives apprehended both men at Komen–Masallaci village during the operation.
Items recovered from the suspects included a brand-new red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle, valued at ₦1.85 million and allegedly bought with ransom proceeds; ₦500,000 cash believed to be unspent ransom money; and one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belong to a notorious banditry and kidnapping syndicate terrorising communities across the North-West and North-Central regions.
Police further disclosed that the gang supplies arms and ammunition to other criminal elements.
The suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to help track down other members of the syndicate and recover more weapons.
Police also confirmed that Abubakar Usman was recently identified in a viral social media video where firearms and large sums of money were openly displayed.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks, curb banditry and kidnapping, and guarantee public safety nationwide.
The Police urged citizens to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to strengthen ongoing operations.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has arrived in Kebbi State following the abduction of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga.
During his visit, he is expected to meet with the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, and address personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in the state.
Mr Egbetokun’s trip comes after a security briefing with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Sunday, where rising abduction cases in Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states were discussed.
It will be recalled that bandits attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the early hours of 17 November, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, before abducting several students.
The gunmen reportedly operated unhindered, shooting Makuku as he tried to protect the students.
As the nation mourned the Kebbi tragedy, armed men carried out another large-scale abduction in Niger State last Friday at St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri.
The gunmen, riding more than 60 motorcycles and accompanied by a van, shot and critically injured the school’s gatekeeper before abducting 315 students.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 50 of the students later escaped.
The CAN Chairman in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Reverend Bulus Yohanna, confirmed that the escaping students regained freedom between Friday and Saturday.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, is currently meeting with senior police officers at the Goodluck Jonathan Peace Keeping Center, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to review the security architecture of the just-concluded governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, among others.
The conference is being attended by Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and other members of the Force Management Team.
According to reports, the meeting will focus on a general review of the elections, electoral offences recorded and suspects arrested during the governorship and states Houses of Assembly elections, reported and recorded police misconduct, among others, while the IG is expected to deliver a lecture, and also interact with the press.
It was reported that a total of 161 suspects, including a Federal lawmaker, were arrested by the police in Kano state during the March 18 elections.
The police also recorded several arrests in Rivers, Ogun, Enugu, Abia, Edo, and Lagos states, among others.
Reports further stated that the police recorded and responded to 185 major incidents and arrested 203 electoral offenders nationwide during the presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
It was gathered that some of the cases are being handled by several state police commands, while others had been handed over to the Legal Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission for prosecution.
The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission has issued a notice of indefinite strike to the management of the commission over a breach of the agreement.
The union noted that the strike will commence with effect from Monday, August 29, 2022.
Chairman of the Joint Service Union, PSC chapter, Mr Adoyi Adoyi, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday.
The notice is coming amidst disagreement between workers of the commission, the Chairman of the commission, Mr Musiliu Smith, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on which body should be responsible for recruitment, promotion, and appointment of constables and officers.
He noted that the IGP and other police chiefs in connivance with the chairman of the PSC, have overruled the constitutional duty of the PSC.
Adoyi added that the IGP has allegedly taken it upon himself to carry out the functions of the PSC in flagrant disregard of the Nigeria constitution, a verdict of the Appeal Court, and the authorities of the PSC.
Adoyi said, “We’re embarking on an indefinite strike from Monday, August 29, to show how discontent with the way the PSC is being run by the chairman of the commission, and the flagrant disregard for the constitution, the court of law, and the PSC by the IGO, Usman Baba.
“The duties of the PSC are spelt out in the constitution, but the IGP has disregarded all of that, and has taken over the duties of the commission. He appoints and promotes at will as opposed to what is stated in the constitution.
“According to the constitution, the appointment, promotion, and recruitment of police officers and constables are the prerogative of the PSC, not the IGP.”
The Nigeria Police has debunked the rumour that Osun CP has been fired.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi describes the claim as misinformation, pointing out that CP Adejobi has neither been fired nor been redeployed.
It explains that CP Olawale Olokode was just temporarily moved to the Force Headquarters pending the conclusion of the guber election when he would return to the State.
“We want to be as transparent, professional and proactive as possible in all our engagements and operations in the Osun Gubernatorial Election, hence the deployment of senior officers from the FHQ to oversee the election security in the state.”
The Statement says the Inspector General of Police has ordered the necessary deployment of both human and material assets to fortify the state for the exercise.
Governors on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have called for the appointment of a new Inspector General of Police (IGP), rejecting the continued stay of Mr. Mohammed Adamu.
President Muhammadu Buhari had recently extended the tenure of the IGP by 3 months, following his attaining the mandatory age of retirement. The extension, the presidency explained is to have enough time to get a suitable replacement.
But the PDP governors, have requested President Buhari to immediately convene a consultative meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint an Inspector General of Police whether in acting or permanent capacity as envisaged in the 1999 Constitution.
The governors in their communique after a virtual meeting, X-rayed the state of the nation, in particular, the various challenges facing the country in respect of security, economy and other matters of national importance.
The governors in their resolution congratulated the newly appointed Service Chiefs and recommended the complete overhauling of the national security architecture.
The governors recommended the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the introduction of the State Police, as one of the solutions to stem the tide of insecurity ravaging the country.
The governors also deliberated on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill pending before the National Assembly and urged the National Assembly to expedite action on its passage.
The PDP governors under the leadership of Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal congratulated Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her emergency as Director-General, World Trade Organisation, and urged her to justify the great confidence reposed in her globally.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu has visited Ibadan the Oyo State capital.
The IGP is in the ancient city to assess level of destruction during the recent #EndSARS protests.
On the entourage of the IG is the Assistant General of Police, South West and also in charge of Research and Planning, Leye Oyebade.
The team arrived Ibadan at exactly 1.20 pm in a police-owned aircraft.
Fifteen police stations and outpost were burnt, one hundred vehicles belonging to the force were affected while five officers were killed during the protest.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu has paid a working visit to Ondo state to assess level of destruction during the #EndSARS protests and to lift the spirit of his officers to carry out their lawful duties of protecting lives and property.
This is just as he declared that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved salary increment for all policemen.
Addressing a cross-section of policemen at the Police State Headquarters, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the Inspector General pleaded with them to start doing their jobs with confidence, also urging them not to be demoralised by attacks suffered during the #EndSARS protests.
Mr Adamu said the recent mass promotion of junior officers was to encourage his men to do their job diligently more than ever before, noting that various reforms including introduction of Police Trustfund and Health Insurance Scheme had been approved by the federal government to boost their moral.
In a remark, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Bolaji Salami, said over eight hundred policemen were promoted in the recent mass promotion.
Police in Ibadan have now complied with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu for officers to return to their duty posts.
According to Radio Nigeria reporter who monitored some traffic-prone areas in Ibadan, some officers were seen in mufti performing skeletal duties.
A police officer who pleaded anonymity said, though the IGP ordered them to return to their duty posts after some officers were killed during the protest, they needed to be sure of their safety.
He said, the shock from the death their colleagues who died during the protest still lingered in their memories, hence the need for them to operate mostly in mufti.
It would be recalled that the #EndSARS protest that occurred some weeks back, subjected police officers to attacks by suspected hoodlums which led to their withdrawal from public places.
Despite the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu for officers to return to their duty posts after the #EndSARS protest that rocked the nation, the police in Ibadan are yet to comply.
The protest which made police officers object of attacks by suspected hoodlums led to their withdrawal from public places.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mr Nwachuku Enwonwu said the police were the major targets during the protest which resulted to death of officers and burning of several police stations.
Mr Enwonwu said the action made the force to withdraw officers to the headquarters to avoid further attacks.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police stated further that, the command is putting in place strategies before the redeployment of officers to the road to prevent further clashes.
Mr Enwonwu restated the commitment of the command to the protection of lives and property at all times.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu bans personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads from mounting checkpoints and carrying out routine patrols.
This is contained a statement signed and issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba in Abuja.
Full text of the statement below
In reply please quote
Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.3/25
Date: 4th October, 2020
The Director of News
…………………………….
PRESS RELEASE
IGP BANS FSARS, OTHER POLICE TACTICAL SQUADS FROM ROUTINE PATROLS
– As Police Arrest 2 FSARS Operatives, 1 Civilian Accomplice in Lagos State
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.
In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti.
They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.
The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.
Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.
The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country.
He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.
He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.
They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.
The IGP has equally warned, that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).
He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens.
The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.
The IGP reaffirms his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure.
He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police.
President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole has called for a support system for mothers in work and market places.
Mrs Omowole made the call in Ibadan at the opening session of a two-day workshop on safe motherhood organized by the NAWOJ.
She noted that if support systems were provided, mothers would be able to perform optionally at work.
She also urged Oyo State Governor, the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the alleged serial killer, Sunday Shodipe is rearrested and brought to book, noting that women are more vulnerable.
In a remark, the Vice President of NAWOJ, Zone B, Mrs Morenike Tony-Esan advocated the importance of breastfeeding to children.
She counselled the participants to be attentive to the training so as to training their members.
Welcoming the participants, the Chairperson, Oyo NAWOJ, Mrs Jadesola Ajibola noted that safety of mothers was paramount and starts from the girl-child.
She, however, decried the fact that a lot of women died as their safety is not ensured.
The Special Assistant to NUJ President, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, observed that everybody has a role to play to in safeguarding the girl-child from all sorts of assault.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hajia Faosat Sanni and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun appreciated the organisers of the workshop .
NAWOJ chairpersons from Zone B which comprises of Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun,Ondo and kwara state were in attendance for the two-day workshop.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has appointed four new Commissioners of Police for Ekiti, Bayelsa, Cross River and Ogun states.
The announcement was made via the twitter handle of the Nigeria Police Force, @PoliceNG.
The new Commissioner of Police in Ekiti is Mobayo Babatunde.
He replaces Mr Amba Asuquo who has been promoted to the rank of the Assistant Inspector General of police, AIG.
The new Commissioner of Police for Bayelsa State is Michael Okoli; that of Cross River State is Abdulkadir Jimoh and while Ogun State has Mr Edward Ajogun as the new Commissioner of Police.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP,CPAC Mr Mohammed Adamu says members of Nigeria rural communities must be mobilised and empowered to be active in security of lives and property in their domain.
This he said at the inauguration of the Community Policing Advisory Committee in Osun State.
Oyo State Government has proposed out of court settlement on a case it instituted against embattled Local Government Chairmen, Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to prevent the chairmen from returning to their offices.
Counsel to the state government, Dr. Akin Onigbinde made this known
while moving the application on the proposal.
Our correspondent, Sunday Ogunyemi, who was at the State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan files in details.
The Inspector
General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu had at different fora, announced plans
by the federal government to recruit forty thousand community policing officers
to compliment Nigeria Police Force in law enforcement functions.
The
community policing officers also known as Special Constables, will be recruited
within the communities where the applicants reside, while fifty Special
Constables are to be engaged in each of the seven hundred and seventy four
local government areas.
In
addition, one thousand, three hundred community policing officers will be drawn
from professional bodies such as the academics, road transport unions, traders
associations, religions bodies, women unions, and youth organisations in order
to ensure diverse representation.
According
to the IGP, the implementation of the community policing strategy is expected
to bridge the gap between the police and the citizens that will enhance
effective and efficient law enforcement service delivery.
With the
adoption of community policing, which has the backing of President Muhammadu
Buhari, Nigeria would have joined nations such as United States, United
Kingdom, France and India that have decentralised their security system, in
which policing functions are citizen-centred and community-drive.
The recruitment
of the community policing officers is a welcome development, as they will be
able to protect lives and property at communities that have been isolated by
police personnel.
Though,
many state governors have devised ways of engaging citizens directly and indirectly
to provide internal security within their states, the Inspector General of
Police said the proposed establishment of community policing would not take
away the powers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Some of
the advantages of the community policing are that it will engender partnership,
accountability and engagement.
The
proposed recruitment of the forty thousand special constables would also put to
an end to the insufficient methods in combating crime and social disorder in
the society.
To make
this work therefore, the recruitment of the special constables must be allowed
to follow due process, the era of recruiting through the back door or through
letters from notable politicians should not be encouraged.
The
forty thousand community policing officers should be gainfully employed before
they are drafted and trained as volunteers to serve in that capacity within
their community.
The
community policing officers should be familiar with the terrain they police.
Some of those to be recruited need to be indigenes or volunteers that have
resided in that particular area for a long period of time.
This
will establish bonds between them and people of the communities they police.
Residents
of communities should also provide support ranging from intelligence gathering
to donation of facilities to the special constables.
The National
Assembly should review the police act with a view to providing new legal
framework that will regulate policing in a democratic dispensation.
Factors
militating against police performance, which include poor resourcing,
corruption, poor management and excessive executive control of the police
should not be allowed to surface when community policing scheme take off.
If the nation is indeed committed to checking high rate of insecurity, every member of the society should support the realisation of community policing.
The
Nigeria Police is to take the fight against kidnappers and bandits to the dens
and hideouts of the criminals.
The Inspector
General of Police, IGP, Mr. Mohammed Adamu gave the information while
addressing newsmen at the Osun State Governor’s office Osogbo, shortly after a
meeting with Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Radio Nigeria correspondent, Adenitan Akinola was there.
Adenitan Akinola’s report on IGP’s visit to Osun State
Inspector
General of Police, Mr. Adamu Muhammed has sought the support of traditional, religious
rulers, stakeholders and other security agencies at fighting against kidnapping
and other criminal activities in the Southwest.
IGP
Adamu stated this while he paid a courtesy visit to the Police Headquarters, Eleyele
Ibadan.
He said
the force had put in place sophisticated weapons and gadgets for officers and
men to ensure that kidnapping which had become rampant in the Southwest became
a thing of the past.
Mr.
Adamu noted that the force had also deployed Special Forces with gadgets loaded
vehicles to Southwestern part of the country to work assiduously with sister
agencies and relevant stakeholders for effective policing.
Contributing,
Commissioner of police in Oyo state, Mr. Shina Olukolu said through
effective personnel and adoption of different security strategies, the
command had been able to nip criminal activities in the bud in the state.
Mr. Olukolu thereby, reiterated the command’s commitment at ensuring safety of lives and property in Oyo state.
Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu
has reiterated the force commitment to reducing criminality through community
policing.
Mr Adamu stated this in Ibadan at the Southwest Geo-political Zone Security Summit held in Ibadan.
Mr Adamu, who was the convener of the summit,
stressed that the police had succeeded in using community policing to stabilise
public security, noting that fleet of patrol vans had been acquired and
would be deployed across highways and cities in the country.
Contributing, Lagos State Governor, who spoke
through the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and his counterpart from Ogun State
Mr Dapo Abiodun, in a message from Deputy Governor ,Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele,
called for the deployment of massive technology to tackle insecurity.
Earlier, in an address of welcome, Oyo State
Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde noted that Southwest governors were committed
to safety and security in the region and Nigeria at large.
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Soliu Adetunji, who
spoke through High Chief Lekan Balogun expressed the determination of
traditional rulers to partner security agencies and to achieve a crime free
society.
