Police arrest 12 over kidnapping, other alleged offences

The Yobe State Police Command announced the arrest of multiple suspects in separate operations targeting alleged extortion, drug-related offenses, and theft throughout the state. The statement was released by ASP Yusuf Adamu Aliyu, the Public Relations Officer for the command, on behalf of Commissioner of Police Usman Kanfani Jibrin.

The arrests were executed through intelligence-led policing, joint operations with other security agencies, and continuous patrols aimed at dismantling criminal networks. A resident in Baimari named Goni Abdullahi informed the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) in Damaturu on August 16 that he received threatening phone calls and was forced to pay N130,000.

Following an investigation, 32-year-old Auwal Mallam Ari from Goneri Hamlet in Yunusari Local Government Area was arrested. During questioning, Ari confessed to the extortion and revealed that he and his accomplices had previously extorted N500,000 from another resident of Goneri. He also identified one Audu Baimari as the alleged leader of the syndicate.

Baimari remains at large, and police are actively searching for him. Items seized in the operation include a mobile phone and SIM card believed to be used in the extortion scheme, along with N630,000 suspected to be proceeds of crime. In another joint operation with vigilante groups, police conducted a nighttime raid on criminal hotspots within Damaturu metropolis, leading to the arrest of 32 individuals suspected of engaging in various criminal activities.

All suspects are expected to be charged to court following the conclusion of investigations. The Yobe State Police Command reaffirmed its dedication to conducting intelligence-driven operations aimed at eliminating criminal elements and ensuring the safety of the public.