Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Adamawa State Police Command has detained three suspects in connection with the abduction of Alhaji Ahmadu, a prominent figure in Malabu, Fufore Local Government Area, in a development that has shocked residents after authorities disclosed that one of those arrested is the victim’s biological son.
The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Nguroje, who described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the state’s ongoing efforts to curb kidnapping and violent crimes. According to the statement, the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated intelligence-driven raid carried out in collaboration with local security partners.
Police said the operation followed the reported kidnapping of Alhaji Ahmadu on January 30, 2026, in Malabu, an agrarian community near the Nigeria-Cameroon border axis that has witnessed intermittent security challenges in recent years. The abduction had heightened tension in the area, with residents expressing fears over rising cases of targeted kidnappings for ransom.
Acting on what officials described as credible intelligence, operatives of the command, alongside members of the Miyetti-Allah vigilance structure, stormed a suspected hideout in Jera village, Malabu District. The joint team reportedly apprehended three men identified as Lawali Haruna, 45; Yahaya Ibrahim, 25; and Da’u Alhaji Ahmadu, 28. All three are residents of Jera in Fufore LGA.
In a disclosure that has drawn widespread attention, police revealed that Da’u Alhaji Ahmadu is the biological son of the abducted victim. Authorities said the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime, though details regarding the motive and ransom demands have not yet been publicly outlined.
“The Adamawa State Police Command has recorded another operational success in its sustained campaign against kidnapping and violent criminality,” the statement said, adding that the arrests were made in line with directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, to intensify operations against criminal networks across the state.
Investigators are continuing efforts to locate and safely rescue Alhaji Ahmadu. Police indicated that operations are ongoing to dismantle what they described as a broader criminal syndicate believed to be operating within and around the Malabu axis. Authorities have not disclosed whether any weapons or other incriminating materials were recovered during the raid.
The involvement of a close family member in the alleged crime has unsettled the local community. Residents in Malabu and surrounding villages have expressed disbelief, with some community leaders calling for a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the abduction.
Security analysts note that insider collaboration has been a recurring feature in several kidnapping cases across Nigeria, where suspects sometimes exploit family connections or local knowledge to facilitate abductions. However, such cases often require careful scrutiny to ensure confessions and evidence meet prosecutorial standards.
Adamawa State, located in Nigeria’s North-East region, has grappled with multiple layers of security challenges, including insurgency-related violence, cross-border criminal activity, and rural banditry. While security forces have reported successes in disrupting criminal cells, sporadic kidnappings continue to affect farming communities and traders, particularly in remote localities.
Commissioner Morris commended the cooperation between law enforcement agencies and community-based groups, stating that intelligence sharing and local participation remain critical to dismantling criminal operations. He assured residents that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property and will not relent in pursuing perpetrators of violent crimes.
Community leaders in Fufore have urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue. They have also appealed for sustained collaboration with security agencies, emphasizing the importance of timely and credible information in preventing future incidents.
Legal experts say that if the suspects are formally charged, the case could proceed under Nigeria’s anti-kidnapping statutes, which carry severe penalties upon conviction. Authorities have yet to announce a court date or outline specific charges.
As the search for Alhaji Ahmadu continues, attention remains focused on the unfolding investigation and the broader implications for community trust and security coordination in Adamawa State. The police have reiterated that updates will be provided as operations progress.
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