Troops, Hunters Raid Yobe Hideout, Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, working with members of the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested five suspected kidnappers during a joint operation in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.

According to security sources, the operation was conducted at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, following intelligence on the alleged activities of a group of suspected kidnappers operating around Jegalari village.

The sources said personnel from the 233 Battalion, deployed at Damaturu Military Cantonment, moved into the area alongside the hunters and raided a suspected criminal hideout, resulting in the arrest of five suspects.

The suspects were identified as Hassan Lawan, 28; Isah Bello, 30; Haruna Suleiman, 20; Ibrahim Bello, 20; and Ahmadu Haruna, 19.

Security personnel reportedly recovered several locally fabricated firearms and ammunition during the operation. The items listed included three locally made AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated pistol, two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition.

Three Tecno mobile phones and an Android handset were also recovered from the suspects, according to the sources.

Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that the five suspects claimed to be cattle rearers and said they were indigenes of Ririn Village in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State.

The suspects and the recovered items have been taken into military custody as investigations continue into their alleged activities and possible links to kidnapping and other criminal operations in the area.

The operation is part of ongoing intelligence-led security efforts by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with other security stakeholders and local community-based security groups, to disrupt criminal networks and improve security across Yobe State and the wider North-East region.

Security personnel are expected to continue surveillance and follow-up operations in the area as authorities work to determine the full extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement in kidnapping and related crimes.