Kano Police have arrested suspected kidnapper Habibu Bello and recovered a cine-camera drone during separate clearance operations in the state.
The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old suspected kidnapper and cattle rustler and recovered a cine-camera drone during separate clearance operations across the state.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the suspect, identified as Habibu Bello of Kunkumi Town, Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested on September 14 following credible intelligence.
According to the police, Bello was allegedly a member of a criminal syndicate involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling across Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states.
The command said operatives of its Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested Bello at about 4:48 p.m. during a targeted operation. Further investigation, according to the police, led to the arrest of another suspected member of the syndicate identified as Mudam of Kwanar Dangora.
Police said Bello allegedly confessed to involvement in several kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of Hajiya Binta of Kwanar Dangora, for which the command said ₦20 million was allegedly paid as ransom.
He was also allegedly linked to the kidnapping of a household in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State and cattle-rustling activities across Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states.
The command said investigation was ongoing, with efforts being intensified to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate and recover weapons allegedly used in their operations.
In a separate operation, police operatives recovered a cine-camera drone marked GT 50 at Hawan Tarau Village in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State.
The command said the drone was recovered on September 17 at about 2 p.m. during a clearance operation after it was found lying on the ground. Police said efforts were ongoing to trace its source and identify its owner.
The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu-Bakori, commended the operatives involved in the operations and reiterated the command’s commitment to sustained clearance operations in collaboration with neighbouring police commands.
He said the operations were aimed at denying criminal elements safe havens across Kano and neighbouring states, while urging residents to report suspicious movements to the police.
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