The Gombe State Police Command has recorded a major success in its ongoing fight against kidnapping and cattle rustling with the arrest of seven members of a notorious criminal syndicate, the neutralisation of two others, and the recovery of a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the breakthrough followed a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations carried out in collaboration with the Gombe State Professional Hunters Association.
According to the statement, the operation began on November 23, 2025, around 4:00 a.m., after officers received credible information from a Good Samaritan linking one Abdullahi Ibrahim, 40, of Tilde Village in Funakaye LGA, to an active network of kidnappers and cattle rustlers. Ibrahim was arrested and, during interrogation, reportedly confessed to participating in cattle theft and several high-profile abductions.
He also named fellow accomplices operating across Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, and Adamawa States. Acting on these leads, operatives attached to Operation Hattara, working with professional hunters, launched multiple raids on November 28.
A gun battle ensued during the joint operation, leading to the arrest of six additional suspects identified as Usman Mohammed (30), Hussain Idris (37), Adamu Tukur (37), Yau Abdullahi (25), Ali Umar (18), and Hassan Usman (40). All seven suspects allegedly confessed to taking part in various kidnapping operations and receiving ransom payments estimated at ₦150 million.
Further intelligence directed officers to the Gadam bush, where the gang was believed to have concealed weapons used in past abductions. As operatives approached the area, they were ambushed by armed members of the syndicate. A brief exchange of gunfire followed, resulting in the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of a GPMG and eight rounds of ammunition. The bodies of the deceased suspects were deposited at the Specialist Hospital Mortuary in Gombe.
Police investigations also linked the syndicate to the January 15, 2025 kidnapping in Barderi Village, Akko LGA, where a victim was held for two weeks before a ₦15 million ransom was paid. The victim reportedly identified three of the arrested suspects as his abductors, while others have come forward with similar claims.
DSP Abdullahi said all arrested suspects remain in custody as the recovered exhibits undergo forensic analysis. He added that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Reassuring the public of its readiness to confront crime, the Command urged residents to continue providing actionable information to help security agencies sustain their operations.
“The Gombe State Police Command reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across the state,” the statement added.
