A 50-year-old informant, Ado Haruna, has been arrested for conspiring with bandits to kidnap his nephew, Alhaji Bashiru Anas, and his family in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Despite facilitating the abduction that led to a ransom payment of N13 million, four new motorcycles, and N300,000 worth of Airtel recharge cards, Haruna received only N200,000 as his reward.

The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives apprehended Haruna, who was among the criminal suspects paraded in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Haruna, a resident of Angwa Kanawa Dutse Abba, was reported to have led three bandits—Shago Yaro, Tanimu Ayuba, and Lamido Dantajiri—to his nephew’s house, posing as a victim.

On the night of the attack, the bandits stormed Alhaji Anas’ residence at about 1am, only to find that he was not at home. Undeterred, they abducted his two wives, three children, younger brother, and his brother’s wife. The victims were held in captivity for 60 days in Buruku Sabo Birni, where negotiations for their release took place.

Confirming his role in the crime, Haruna admitted, “I’m into farming and vigilante work. It is true that I was the one who took bandits to Alhaji Anas’ house. Anas is my nephew; my elder sister’s son. I knew only one of the bandits who asked me to show them my nephew’s house.”

He continued, “I led the bandits to his house but didn’t let him see me. We were living in the same community. They did not see Anas, so they took his wife and children. For the 60 days his family was in the bush, I was using Alhaji Anas’ phone to communicate with the bandits.

“The bandits were paid over N10 million as ransom, as I was made to know, but I was given N200,000 as my share. I bought maize with the money given to me.”

Haruna expressed surprise at his arrest, stating, “I didn’t know how the police got information about my involvement. I just saw them at my home. Life pushed me into crime.”

Alongside Haruna, police operatives also arrested Nyali Hassan, a notorious kidnapper linked to several abductions in Kano and Kaduna States.

Acting on intelligence reports, IRT operatives traced Hassan to Stara Rago in Kano, where he was arrested with an AK-47 rifle (breech number 6047) and two empty magazines.

During interrogation, Hassan confessed to being a member of a six-man gang specialising in kidnappings across Makarfi, Bari, Yankin Rago, and Beli towns. He identified his accomplices as Kawuje, Moude, Babagida, Kabiru, and Umar, revealing that Umar was still at large and in possession of two additional AK-47 rifles.

Recounting his criminal activities, Hassan, a 35-year-old father of ten, said, “I have two wives and 10 children. I’m into farming and cattle rearing, but I added kidnapping to it. I was carrying out the operations in Kano. I started a year ago. I have kidnapped eight people but got money from five of them. I collected between N1 million and N10 million as ransom. Some of the victims escaped while those guarding them slept off. I was targeting the rich people.”

Detailing their modus operandi, he explained, “We usually carried out our operations by laying ambush for victims on the road or visiting their homes. We never killed any of our potential victims.”

Hassan also shared how he was influenced into crime, “I know that the Qur’an does not support crime, but I’ll say that my friends misled me. They would be spending so much money whenever we were at a gathering, so I decided to join them.”

He disclosed that he bought a pickup van from his share of the proceeds and had inherited 20 cows from his late father, “My friend, Umar, who is also one of the gang members, taught me how to shoot with an AK-47 rifle,” he added.

The FPRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, assured that security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the remaining gang members and recover their weapons.

The United States government has announced a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday.

In a statement issued by the US Department of Treasury, the government emphasised its commitment to supporting democratic accountability in Venezuela, alleging that Maduro’s re-election was marked by widespread fraud and irregularities.

Acting under-secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, Bradley Smith, critised Maduro’s leadership, stating, “Since last year’s election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela. The United States, together with our like-minded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people’s vote for new leadership and rejects Maduro’s fraudulent claim of victory.”

Maduro’s re-election in 2024 was mired in controversy, with partial results from the National Electoral Council (CNE) declaring him the winner amidst allegations of vote-rigging. The US and other global leaders questioned the credibility of the poll, while Panama responded by suspending diplomatic ties with Venezuela.

During his inauguration on Friday, Maduro promised a new era of peace, prosperity, and democracy. However, the US dismissed his pledges, citing his administration’s ongoing actions against dissent in Venezuela.

The Treasury statement added, “Instead, Maduro and his representatives have continued their violent repression in an attempt to maintain power and have ignored the Venezuelan people’s calls for democratic accountability.”

In addition to the $25 million bounty on Maduro, the US State Department announced a $15 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s defense minister. Maduro’s interior minister also became a target of the same $25 million offer.

The US further imposed new visa restrictions on officials aligned with Maduro, accusing them of undermining Venezuela’s electoral process and engaging in acts of repression.

The US and its allies repeatedly urged Maduro to initiate a democratic transition. However, his government resisted the calls, maintaining its grip on power through what the US described as “violent repression”.