Seven kidnappers arrested, GPMG recovered in Gombe

The Gombe State Police Command has announced the arrest of seven suspected members of a cross-border kidnap syndicate, neutralizing two others, and recovering a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
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The operations, conducted in partnership with the Gombe State Professional Hunters Association, targeted a criminal network operating across four states in the North-East region. The suspects have allegedly confessed to collecting an estimated 150 million naira.
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The operation, which began on November 23, 2025, under the Police’s Operation Hattara, was driven by intelligence that led to the initial arrest of Abdullahi Ibrahim (40), in Funakaye Local Government Area, who was suspected of harbouring criminals involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling.
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After an interrogation with the police, Ibrahim confessed and provided information leading to the arrest of six additional accomplices. The syndicate is believed to have operated across Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, and Adamawa States.
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A subsequent operation to recover concealed weapons in the Gadam bush area led to a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and eight rounds of live ammunition.
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All seven suspects remain in custody, and will be charged to court upon the completion of the ongoing investigations by the police.
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