Police recover 10 AK rifles, arrest suspects, rescue trafficked children in Niger

The Niger State Police Command has recovered 10 AK rifles and arrested several suspects linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide and child trafficking during operations in July 2026.

The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed this at a press briefing at the Police Headquarters in Minna.

Elleman said the recovered rifles include four AK-74s, three AK-49s and three AK-47s. He added that the police also seized five AK-47 magazines and 185 rounds of live ammunition from a separate arrest, bringing the total recovered ammunition for the month to 330 rounds and magazines to 15.

According to him, tactical teams intensified operations in Garam, Chachi, Ijah-Gwari, Ijah-Koro, Gauraka and along the Kaduna Road following reports of repeated kidnappings earlier in the year.

Police intelligence identified a 45-year-old suspect, Samaila Shefiu, also known as Yakumujuri of Barikin-Sale, as a key figure operating in Kubwa, Bwari and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory. He was arrested on July 10 near Kpakungu roundabout.

During interrogation, Shefiu admitted involvement in kidnappings in Gauraka, Kubwa and Bwari. He stated that a gang member, Yakubu, who is still at large, shot and killed the son of a kidnapped woman in Kubwa before the woman was released after ransom was paid.

The police commissioner said follow-up operations led to exchanges of gunfire and the recovery of one AK-49 rifle with five rounds of ammunition at Bwari hills, two rifles buried in Gauraka forest and two additional AK-49 rifles with 36 rounds in Bwari.

He further disclosed that a rescue operation in Gauraka led to the release of three kidnapped victims and the arrest of five other suspects — Amadu Abdullahi, also known as Kachalla Baban-Tsoho; Adamu Abubakar; Mohammed Tasiu; Sani Shehu; and Bashir Aliyu, also known as Kachalla Mallam. All six suspects are in custody, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.

In a related development, Elleman said a patrol team in Tegina on July 28 arrested Zubairu Mohammed of Maikujeri village in Rafi Local Government Area after discovering five AK-47 magazines and 185 rounds of live ammunition concealed in a bag of cement on his motorcycle.

The suspect reportedly told police that he was given the bag in Minna to deliver to a man identified as Ado in Maikujeri.

In a separate operation, the police rescued nine children aged between seven and 13 years and arrested two suspects over alleged child trafficking.

Elleman said officers intercepted Dauda Ayuba of Senchi village in the Kaffin-Koro area of Paikoro Local Government Area while he was conveying six female children.

On the same day, another suspect, Mary Anthony, 37, of the Gbeganu area, was arrested with three other female children in a vehicle.

He said all nine children have been reunited with their parents, while investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the trafficking network.

In another case, detectives using technical intelligence rescued a four-week-old baby abducted in Minna on July 14.

The police arrested Chidi Johnson, 24, also known as Yaron-Pastor of Abdulsalam Quarters, and Zainab Ibrahim, 22, of Alagbado area in Minna but resident in Sokoto State.

Ibrahim, during interrogation, said she contracted Johnson to obtain a newborn after she suffered a miscarriage.

The commissioner said the baby was recovered unhurt and returned to the mother, adding that the suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.