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Bandits receive N13m ransom, give N200,000 to man for setting up nephew

A certain Ado Haruna, a 50-year-old informant for bandits, has confessed to orchestrating the abduction of his own nephew, Alhaji Bashiru Anas, and his family.
Haruna, who was recently paraded by the Nigerian Police Force, disclosed that he received a paltry 200,000 Naira from the 13 million Naira ransom paid to secure the release of his relatives.
Haruna, a resident of Angwa Kanawa Dutse Abba in Zaria, Kaduna State, was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) following a tip-off about his involvement in the kidnapping.
According to police reports, Haruna had led bandits to his nephew’s residence, suggesting that Alhaji Anas and his family would be a lucrative target.
The bandits, however, missed Alhaji Anas during the raid but abducted his two wives, three children, younger brother, and sister-in-law.
The victims were held captive for 60 days in Buruku Sabo Birni, during which the family negotiated with the kidnappers.
Eventually, a ransom of N13 million, four new motorcycles, and N300,000 worth of Airtel recharge cards were paid to secure their release.
Haruna, who played a pivotal role in the abduction, expressed regret over his meager share of the ransom, stating that he used the N200,000 to purchase maize.
In an interview with, Haruna recounted how he became entangled in the web of crime.
“I’m a farmer and also work as a vigilante. I knew one of the bandits, and he asked me to show them my nephew’s house. I led them there but made sure Alhaji Anas didn’t see me. When they didn’t find him, they took his family instead,” he divulged.
Haruna revealed that he used his nephew’s phone to communicate with the bandits during the 60-day ordeal.
“I didn’t know how the police found out about my involvement. They just showed up at my house one day. Life pushed me into crime,” he lamented.
A Network of Crime Unraveled
The arrest of Haruna is part of a broader crackdown on kidnapping and banditry in the region.
Another suspect, Nyali Hassan, a 35-year-old kidnapper from Kano State, was also paraded by the police.
Hassan, who was arrested with an AK-47 rifle, confessed to being part of a six-man gang responsible for multiple kidnappings in Kano and Kaduna states.
Hassan disclosed that his gang had kidnapped eight people over the past year, successfully collecting ransoms ranging from N1 million to N10 million.
“We targeted wealthy individuals,” he said. “We would ambush them on the road or visit their homes. We never killed any of our victims.”
The gang, which included members identified as Kawuje, Moude, Babagida, Kabiru, and Umar, operated with three AK-47 rifles.
Hassan revealed that Umar, who is still at large, provided the weapons and taught him how to use them.
“I bought a pickup van with my share of the ransom money,” Hassan admitted. “I also inherited 20 cows from my father, but I got greedy and joined this life of crime.”
Police Efforts to Curb Kidnapping
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the IRT operatives are intensifying efforts to apprehend the remaining gang members and recover their weapons.
“We are committed to dismantling these criminal networks and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians,” Adejobi stated.
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