By Jabir Ridwan
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested ten suspects in connection with the killing of a man and the abduction of his wife during an incident that occurred on March 13, 2026, in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the tragic incident resulted in the death of Sufiyanu Garba and the abduction of his wife, Zainab Mohammad.
The police command strongly condemned the attack and reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The statement added that following sustained investigative efforts, the abducted victim has been successfully rescued and reunited with her family. The breakthrough was achieved through a coordinated operation by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID) in collaboration with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), using credible intelligence and technical support.
Acting on intelligence and technical analysis, the police arrested ten suspects linked to the crime. They include Zakariya Abubakar Diggi, Joseph Dahali Wanda, Sanda Alhaji, Mamman Abubakar Manu, Aisha Manu, Saudatu Abubakar, Abubakar Muhammad, Betuwa Muhammad, Abdullahi Umaru and Ja’I Garba.
Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the suspects, Zakariya Abubakar Diggi and Joseph Dahali Wanda, allegedly operated as SIM registration agents who fraudulently registered SIM cards using proxy subscriber information. The SIM cards were reportedly used by kidnappers during ransom negotiations.
The remaining suspects are currently being investigated for their alleged roles in the crime, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects still at large.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Umar M. Hadejia, commended the professionalism and dedication of the officers involved in the operation and assured the public that the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The police command also reiterated that measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.