Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested six suspected kidnappers and dismantled a suspected criminal hideout in Dogon Pako Village, Ikara Local Government Area, following a clearance operation that saw the arrest of a 65-year-old landlord and his 50-year-old wife, who allegedly served as the caretaker of the captives. The breakthrough, which occurred on August 11, 2026, was triggered by credible information from a kidnap victim who escaped from captivity, as well as intelligence provided by members of the public.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, reported the incident to the police on Tuesday and provided a detailed description of the house where he was held captive. The house was identified as belonging to one Ja’e Samalu, a 65-year-old male resident of Dogon Pako Village, Ikara LGA. The police spokesperson for the Kaduna State Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday. “Upon receiving the complaint, the Ikara Police Division promptly mobilised officers, in collaboration with members of the local vigilante service, to raid the location,” Hassan said.
During the operation, the team raided the house and arrested six suspects: Ja’e Samalu, 65; Abdul-Aziz Musa, also known as “Kire,” 35; Jafar Isah, 25; Yunusa Musa, 22; Shu’aibu Musa, 20; and Rakiya Samalu, 50, who is believed to be the mother of the suspects and the caretaker of the captive. The police said one of the suspects was allegedly the caretaker of the hideout, while another was the owner of the house where the victim was reportedly held captive. The ages of the suspects ranged from 20 to 65.
The six suspects are currently in police custody as investigators work to establish their individual roles and track down other members of the alleged criminal network. Hassan added that “efforts are also ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network.” The Commissioner of Police for Kaduna State, CP Muhammad Rabiu, commended the police operatives and members of the public whose timely information contributed to the success of the operation. He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the nearest police formation.
The commissioner also warned residents to be cautious of criminal elements who may use residential buildings as hideouts or holding facilities for kidnapped victims, stressing that community vigilance and timely intelligence-sharing were essential to dismantling kidnapping networks. “He stressed that community vigilance and timely information sharing remain critical to preventing and dismantling kidnapping networks,” Hassan stated in the release.
The operation in Ikara Local Government Area comes amid a broader crackdown on kidnapping networks across Kaduna State. Just weeks earlier, the police arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Abdullahi Mohammed, popularly known as “Aala,” who allegedly confessed to masterminding several kidnapping operations in Ikara LGA and parts of neighbouring Kano State. The success of the latest operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and community cooperation in combating the scourge of kidnapping in the North-West.
For the escaped victim, the nightmare of captivity is over. For the six suspects now in police custody, the long arm of the law is just beginning to close in. As the investigation continues, the Kaduna State Police Command has made it clear: the era of impunity for kidnappers in the state is coming to an end.
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