Niger Police Arrest Six Over Alleged Fake-Lift Kidnapping Ring, Hunt Suspected Kingpin
The Niger State Police Command says it has arrested six suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate accused of luring travellers with fake lifts along the Suleja and Kontagora routes. Police allege that victims were drugged and taken to hideouts in neighbouring states. The investigation followed the reported abduction of a woman and her baby in Suleja in February 2026. Her relatives allegedly paid ₦9.5 million in ransom through several bank accounts, but she was not released until she escaped from captivity. Police said the suspects allegedly used victims’ personal and bank details to target others, including a woman reportedly abducted while travelling from Sokoto to Kontagora. One suspect was also alleged to have helped identify potential victims through a fake spiritual-assistance scheme. The alleged leader, Mustapha Yusuf, and two other suspects remain at large. The arrested suspects are in custody as police continue their investigation ahead of possible prosecution.
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