The Kano State Police Command has arrested one suspected bandit. It recovered 18 rounds of ammunition. The arrest followed an intensive combing of Falgore forest. The operation came after security agents neutralised two suspected kidnappers. The police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, issued a statement on Monday night in Kano.
Falgore forest is a notorious bandit haven. It spans Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi states. The terrain is vast and poorly policed. In 2023, security forces launched Operation Kukan Kura to clear the forest. In 2024, bandits continued to use it as a base for kidnappings. Local hunters, known as Yan Bula, know the terrain. The police rely on them for intelligence and tracking.
On 17 October, a joint security force ambushed two suspected bandits. The bandits had collected ₦10 million ransom from relatives of a kidnapped victim. The security team neutralised them. The victim was rescued unharmed. The ₦10 million ransom was recovered. The police then intensified operations.
On Sunday at about 6:30 am, operatives from Doguwa Division and Yan Bula hunters combed the forest. They recovered one AK-47 rifle with 18 rounds of live ammunition. They arrested one suspect linked to the kidnapping of Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu of Falgore village, Doguwa Local Government Area. The rescued victim identified the suspect as the one who guarded him at night, brought him food and beat him. The suspect was transferred to the command’s Criminal Investigation Department Anti-Kidnapping Squad. The police are searching for his accomplices.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu-Bakori, commended the hunters. He said their efforts complement Operation Kukan Kura. He reassured the public of the command’s commitment to fighting banditry.
Winners: The police, which demonstrates capacity. The Yan Bula hunters, who gain recognition. The rescued victim, who gains freedom. Communities in Doguwa, which gain temporary relief. Losers: The two neutralised bandits. The arrested suspect, who faces prosecution. Their accomplices, who remain at large. Kidnap networks, which lose operatives and weapons.
Bottom Line: One arrest. One AK-47. Eighteen rounds. The forest is still dangerous. The hunters help. The police need more. The operation continues.