The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested a 34-year-old woman, Nansik Wuyep Sule, and several other suspects over alleged cases of fake kidnapping, kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal firearms trafficking across different states.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) during intelligence-led operations.

The operations also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and other exhibits in some of the cases.

Briefing journalists at the FID-IRT on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said Sule allegedly conspired with Catherine Davou, mother of a two-year-old boy, and Luka Emmanuel Butdam to stage the child’s abduction and demand N15 million ransom from his grandmother.

Iniedu said Sule was arrested in Jos, Plateau State, on July 23, 2026, following credible intelligence.

He said during interrogation, Sule allegedly confessed to conspiring with Davou to fake the child’s abduction.

According to the police, the child was hidden in Davou’s residence while Butdam allegedly made calls to the grandmother, demanding N15 million as ransom.

The police said all three suspects were subsequently arrested and the child rescued.

He was taken to hospital for medical attention before being handed over to his biological father.

Police said investigation into the case is ongoing.

In another operation, the police arrested two suspected kidnappers, Idris Mohammed, also known as Yellow, and Mohammed Bello Adams.

Mohammed was arrested in Bauchi State on July 28 and allegedly found in possession of a Toyota Corolla said to have been abandoned during a kidnapping operation.

The 2012 model red Toyota Corolla, with registration number SMK 611 BF, was recovered and later released to the complainant.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Adams in Nasarawa State and allegedly linked the suspects to the kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and Abdullahi Abubakar, for which N7.5 million and N3 million ransoms were reportedly paid respectively.

The police also announced the arrest of eight suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping and illegal firearms dealing in Imo and Rivers states.

The suspects, who were received by the Intelligence Response Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser on June 4, include Mohammadu Sani, Moses Daniel, Usman Mohammad, Aliyu Manu, Ibrahim Mohammed, Samaila Ibrahim, Ahmed Abubakar and Umaru Abdullahi.

Sani, identified as the alleged gang leader, was arrested on the outskirts of Owerri, Imo State, where one AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.

Preliminary investigation, according to the police, showed that the group had relocated from Kogi State to Port Harcourt and was allegedly involved in multiple kidnapping operations in Rivers and Imo states.

The suspects were also allegedly involved in the illegal procurement and supply of firearms.

In a separate case, two suspected members of a firearms trafficking syndicate, Yakubu Danladi Pam and Abdulsalam Mohammed Hussain, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation.

The police said the operation, which commenced on June 22, uncovered a suspected firearms trafficking network operating in the North-Central region.

A locally fabricated AK-47 rifle was recovered from Pam, while Hussain was arrested in Jos, Plateau State, on June 30, with one Type 06 rifle, two magazines and 28 rounds of live ammunition.

Investigators allegedly linked the duo to the supply and transportation of firearms across the North-Central and North-Eastern regions.

Also, six suspects were arrested in Katsina State and its environs over alleged criminal conspiracy, aiding terrorism and illegal possession of prohibited ammunition.

The police said the operation, conducted on March 29 following intercepted telephone communications, led to the recovery of 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four rounds of red cartridges, a long knife, charms and N220,000 cash.

Police said three alleged collaborators—Alhaji Abdulbashir, Alhaji Ado Garba and Alhaji Babban Kifi—remained at large, while investigation continues.

The Force said the arrests and recoveries underscored the importance of intelligence-led policing, sustained investigation and inter-agency collaboration in tackling threats to public safety. (The Nation)