Five suspected kidnappers neutralised during gun battle with troops in Kaduna

Five suspected kidnappers were killed during a gun battle with troops in Kaduna State, according to reports. The incident occurred early Monday morning, September 21, 2026, in Sanga Local Government Area. Initially, troops from Sub-Sector 71 had arrested the five suspects a day prior. During interrogation, the suspects admitted to kidnapping and other criminal activities, and agreed to guide troops to the syndicate's hideouts to recover weapons and apprehend other members.

However, when the troops arrived at the suspected hideouts around 12:30am, they encountered other members of the group, resulting in a gun battle. The five previously arrested suspects were killed in the confrontation, while the rest of the syndicate members fled the area, as reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama. No casualties were reported among the troops. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal syndicate.