Police uncover robbery gang coordinated from Kaduna prison

The Nigeria Police Force apprehended Abdullahi Abubakar, a suspected armed robber, for alleged one-chance operations within Kaduna State. Investigations uncovered that Boniface, a gang leader, allegedly orchestrated criminal activities from the Kaduna Correctional Centre, where he was incarcerated. Police Intelligence Response Team Commander, Adams Muazu, announced this on Friday during a press conference in which Abubakar was paraded alongside other suspects.

Abubakar was apprehended on October 12, 2026, at approximately 8:30 pm, following credible intelligence. During his interrogation, Abubakar identified Boniface as the individual who directed him to the gang's hideout where their firearms were stored. Police subsequently obtained a reproduction warrant and recovered two pistols from the location.

Concerning the involvement of Boniface, Muazu expressed concern, stating that the gang leader continued to coordinate the gang's operations from within custody. The gang had allegedly stolen several vehicles in Kaduna and neighboring areas, selling them through receivers in Kano, Kaduna, and the Niger Republic. Boniface was subsequently taken into police custody alongside other suspects. Ongoing investigations aim to determine the full extent of the alleged criminal network.

In a separate incident, three suspected armed robbers and kidnappers were apprehended in Jos, Plateau State. They were seized by IRT operatives on special duty on November 2, 2026, around 3:30 pm. The suspects, identified as Benjamin Okafor, Moses Akintuyi, and Emmanuel Megarfi, allegedly attacked a victim at gunpoint, stole his unregistered 2015 Toyota Corolla, and acquired a laptop, three mobile phones, and three ATM cards.

The recovered exhibits included three locally fabricated pistols, one cartridge, and the stolen Toyota Corolla. One suspect was a neighbor of the victim, who initially sympathized with the victim but was subsequently caught through intelligence-led policing. The suspect disclosed that he had entered the criminal world following the loss of funds invested in mining activities due to property destruction. Police investigations into both incidents are ongoing.