Kebbi Police Arrest Five Suspects After Midnight Operation

Northern Nigeria saw another significant security crackdown this week as officers from the No. 36 PMF Squadron in Birnin Kebbi carried out a midnight operation that led to the arrest of five suspected criminals along the Zuru Tadurga Road. It was one of those tense moments where the right tip landed at the right time and shifted everything.

Police say the operation unfolded around 1 a.m., following actionable intelligence. CSP Nafi'u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, spokesperson for the Kebbi State Command, confirmed that officers moved swiftly and intercepted the suspects on Sunday, November 16. Authorities believe the group may be tied to recent attacks in the area, underscoring how urgent the ongoing security crackdown has become.

The suspects were identified as:
• Bako Aliyu of Nanarki village
• Sani Alaramma of Wawan Icce village
• Umaru Tafsi of Birnin Tudu
• Mamman Sani Danzakara of Mallamawa village
• Lawali Sani of Birnin Tudu

All five men are from Bukkuyum and Gummi LGAs in Zamfara State, a region repeatedly flagged in recent security reports.

During the arrest, officers recovered a surprising amount of equipment linked to criminal operations, strengthening the momentum of the security crackdown already underway. Items recovered include:
• Seven imitation AK-47 rifles
• One locally made handgun
• Three Dane guns
• Forty-three rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition
• Forty-six cartridges
• N2,623,900 in cash
• Three AK-47 magazines and two empty ammunition shells

The discovery expands what investigators know about how criminal networks move weapons and money through rural routes during ongoing security crackdowns across the northwest. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Birnin Kebbi as authorities hunt for additional members of the syndicate.

Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, praised the squadron’s disciplined approach and urged residents to stay alert and report unusual activities quickly. Community vigilance, he noted, remains one of the strongest defenses during any security crackdown.