The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and cattle rustler and recovered a cine-camera drone during clearance operations along the Kano-Kaduna and Kano-Katsina border areas.
The Command said the operations were carried out in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on sustained interstate “handshake” patrols and clearance operations to deny criminal elements safe havens.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 35-year-old Habibu Bello of Kunkumi Town, Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on September 14, 2026.
The police described Bello as a suspected member of a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling across Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states.
The Command said further investigation led to the arrest of another alleged member of the syndicate, identified as Mudam, from Kwanar Dangora.
According to the statement, Bello allegedly confessed to involvement in several kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of Hajiya Binta of Kwanar Dangora, for which a ransom of N20 million was allegedly paid.
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He was also alleged to have participated in the kidnapping of a household in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, as well as cattle rustling activities across the three states.
The police said the investigation was ongoing, with efforts being intensified to arrest other members of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.
In a separate operation on September 17, police operatives recovered a cine-camera drone marked “GT 50” at Hawan Tarau Village in the Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Command said the drone was found lying on the ground during a clearance operation, adding that efforts were underway to determine its source and identify its owner.
The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the operatives for their efforts and pledged to sustain clearance operations in collaboration with neighboring police commands.
He also appealed to residents to continue supporting the police by reporting suspicious movements to the nearest police station.