Kano Hunters Kill Two Suspected Bandits, Recover N10m Ransom in Falgore Forest

Two suspected bandits have been killed and ₦10 million reportedly paid as ransom recovered following a security operation in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The operation also led to the safe release of a kidnapped man, identified as 45-year-old Kabiru Aliyu, a resident of Falgore Village. The Kano State Police Command and the Nigerian Army confirmed the incident in separate statements, although their accounts differ on some details of the operation.

According to the police, three suspected bandits emerged from Falgore Forest around midnight on Saturday, October 17, 2026, to collect the ransom demanded for Aliyu’s release. The suspects reportedly released the victim after collecting the money.

Police spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said local hunters, popularly known as Yan Bula, ambushed the suspects shortly after they collected the ransom and headed back towards their hideout in the forest.

Two of the suspected kidnappers were killed during the encounter, while the third reportedly escaped with injuries. The police said the entire ₦10 million ransom was recovered intact from the two deceased suspects.

The police account stated that Aliyu was abducted on September 11, 2026, and had spent days in captivity before regaining his freedom. However, a separate statement from the Nigerian Army placed the abduction on October 11, 2026, at Fanyabo Village in the same local government area. The discrepancy in the dates could not be independently resolved from the available reports.

In its account, the Army said troops of the 3 Brigade, operating under Operation MESA, worked with the police, Department of State Services (DSS) personnel and local hunters to mount an ambush following intelligence on the kidnapping. The operation resulted in the killing of two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of Aliyu, while other members of the gang fled towards the forest.

The Army further disclosed that a subsequent search led to the recovery of the ₦10 million reportedly paid by the victim’s family. According to the military, the recovered money was returned to Aliyu and his family.

The police separately identified one of the deceased suspects as Dogo Isah, a commercial motorcycle operator from Maigwanda Village in Kubau Local Government Area of neighbouring Kaduna State. The identity of the second suspect was not disclosed in the police statement, while the whereabouts of the fleeing suspect remained unknown.

Following the incident, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, directed the area commander, divisional police officers and tactical teams to intensify searches across Falgore Forest and neighbouring communities. The directive included efforts to apprehend the injured suspect and recover any weapons allegedly used by the group. The police also said Aliyu had been debriefed, medically examined and reunited with his family.

The police commissioner commended the local hunters for supporting security efforts against kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes under Operation Kukan Kura. The Army also praised the personnel involved in the operation and urged residents to provide credible, timely information to security agencies. With one suspect reportedly still at large, the ongoing search remains important to efforts to prevent further attacks and improve security across the Falgore Forest axis.