“I Got Only N200,000 from N13m Ransom After Setting Up My Nephew for Abduction,” Bandits’ Informant Confesses

An informant for a bandit group, Ado Haruna, has confessed to setting up his own nephew, Alhaji Bashiru Anas, and his family for abduction. Haruna, who was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), revealed that despite the kidnappers collecting a ransom of N13 million, he only received N200,000 for his role in the crime.

Haruna, a resident of Angwa Kanawa Dutse Abba, Zaria, Kaduna State, guided three bandits—Shago Yaro, Tanimu Ayuba, and Lamido Dantajiri—to his nephew’s home, believing the family would be a profitable target. When the bandits struck at 1 a.m., they found Alhaji Anas absent and instead abducted his two wives, three children, younger brother, and the brother’s wife. The victims were held in Buruku Sabo Birni for 60 days.

To secure their release, N13 million, four new motorcycles, and N300,000 in Airtel recharge cards were handed over to the kidnappers. However, Haruna was surprised to receive only N200,000 as his share.

Another suspect, Nyali Hassan, was also paraded after being caught with an AK-47 rifle. IRT operatives, acting on intelligence about criminal activities in Makarfi, Bari, Yankin Rago, and Beli towns in Kano and Kaduna, tracked Hassan to Stara Rago in Kano. During his arrest, police recovered an AK-47 rifle with breech number 6047 and two empty magazines.

Hassan, a 35-year-old farmer and cattle rearer with two wives and ten children, admitted to being a kidnapper. He confessed to abducting eight people, successfully extorting ransom from five victims, and collecting between N1 million and N10 million. He also disclosed that his gang, consisting of six members, operated with three AK-47 rifles supplied by his associate, Umar, who remains at large.

Haruna, aged 50, told investigators that he was involved in farming and vigilante activities before turning to crime. He claimed he did not directly participate in the abduction but led the bandits to his nephew’s home. For 60 days, he communicated with the kidnappers using Anas’s phone. When asked about his arrest, he admitted he had no idea how the police discovered his role.

Hassan also detailed his methods, explaining that his gang ambushed victims on the road or attacked their homes. He insisted they never killed anyone but confirmed that some hostages managed to escape when their captors fell asleep. He blamed peer influence for his actions, revealing that he joined the group after seeing friends spending large sums of money.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other gang members and recover remaining weapons.