Two Alleged Kidnappers Apprehended in Yobe; 26 Goats Recovered

The Yobe State Police Command has announced a significant operational success, confirming the arrest of two individuals suspected of belonging to a kidnapping syndicate. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officers recovered twenty-six allegedly stolen goats in the Gujba Local Government Area of the state.

DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the command's spokesperson, released a statement on Sunday, July 12, 2026, detailing the incident. According to his account, armed assailants had abducted one Idi Musa, forcibly taking him and his Kasea motorcycle to an undisclosed location. Fortunately, Mr. Musa managed to escape from his captors' hideout on July 10, 2026, and promptly reported the ordeal to the police.

Acting swiftly on the credible information provided by the victim, police operatives launched an investigation. This led to the arrest of two suspects on July 11, 2026, identified as Musa Damuna, 23, and Yusufa Muhammad Bello, 21. Both individuals are residents of Mutai Ward within the Gujba Local Government Area.

Further details from the police statement revealed that the Gujba Divisional Police headquarters received a distress call on July 7, 2026, concerning Mr. Musa's abduction from Kolmamaji Village. Upon receiving the report, the division immediately mobilized its personnel, initiating coordinated search-and-rescue operations alongside intelligence gathering efforts to ensure the victim's safe return and apprehend the perpetrators.

During the operation that led to the suspects' apprehension, the police successfully recovered twenty-six goats, which are believed to have been stolen. Preliminary investigations have also indicated that the victim's motorcycle was disposed of by the suspects prior to their arrest. Efforts are currently underway to trace and recover the motorcycle, as well as to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

The arrested suspects are currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing. They are expected to be prosecuted once the inquiry is concluded. The Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, psc, mspsp, commended the officers and men of the Command, urging them to maintain their proactive, intelligence-led policing strategies. He also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, reaffirming the Command's unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across Yobe State.