Police nab notorious kidnap kingpin, recover illegal firearms in Plateau

The Nigeria Police Force, Plateau State Police Command, has arrested Babangida Buba Popularly known as Babawo, a notorious kidnap kingpin and recovered illegal firearms linked to his gang’s operations in Plateau State.

The arrest followed a sustained manhunt after the command dislodged a kidnap syndicate in November 2024 that had been terrorising residents, particularly in Shendam Local Government Area.

While Abubakar Ahmadu Bello and three other suspects were earlier arrested and remanded at the High Court in Shendam, their gang leader, Babawo, escaped during the initial operation.

Announcing the breakthrough on Thursday, in a statement by Bassey Ewah, the Commissioner of Police, through Alfred Alabo, the commands spokesperson said the fugitive kingpin was apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team attached to the command.

“The said Babangida Buba, aka Babawo who has been on the run, has finally been arrested by our gallant IRT operatives attached to the Command,” the statement said.

The statement said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and disclosed that he sold one of the gang’s operational AK-47 rifles to Muhammadu Isiyaku, also known as Mamman, in the Baba Lamba area of Pankshin Local Government Area. Acting swiftly on the information, operatives tracked and arrested the buyer.

“Further investigation led to the recovery of the following exhibits: one Browning Sub-Machine Gun with breach number KR3541 and 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and an additional SMG rifle with defaced breach number, loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition,” the police added.

The command said investigation is ongoing to arrest other gang members and recover more weapons, while the suspects will be prosecuted alongside those already facing trial.

The command warned criminal elements and crisis merchants to desist from unlawful acts, assuring residents of adequate security and urging them to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the designated emergency numbers.

Nathaniel Gbaoron

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states. He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.