Nigeria: Police Arrest Two Over Abduction of Military Recruits in Zamfara

What the report says

Police in Nigeria’s Kebbi State said they have arrested two men suspected of involvement in the abduction of three newly graduated military recruits in nearby Zamfara State. The arrests were announced by police spokesperson Bashir Usman, who said the suspects were taken into custody on Saturday morning and that one of them provided what the command described as useful information during questioning.

According to the report published by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, the recruits were abducted in July along the Kwanan Mayanchi-Gurusu stretch of the Anka-Bukuyum road in Zamfara. The victims were from Kebbi State, and police identified one of them as Kabiru Hassan from Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, while the other two were said to be from Zuru Local Government Area.

Police said the three recruits have since regained their freedom, but gave no details on when they were freed, how long they were held, or whether any ransom was involved. The command also did not say whether the arrests happened before or after the release. The case has been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department as investigators continue to look for other possible suspects.

The development matters because it points to continuing insecurity on roads in northwestern Nigeria, where abductions have been a recurring concern. Kebbi State Police Commissioner Umar Hadejia praised the officers involved and said efforts would continue to identify and prosecute everyone connected to the case.