Police nab suspected bandit in Gombe, rescue kidnap victim

The Gombe State Police Command has arrested a suspected bandit identified as Shehu Hussaini.

Spokesman of the command, Buhari Abdullahi, who revealed the development on Friday in a press statement, explained that on 18th January, 2026, at about 2:30 pm, operatives attached to Pindiga Divisional Police Headquarters in the state, while on “aggressive” stop-and-search patrol within the area, intercepted and arrested the suspect.

He added that upon search, the suspect was found in possession of the following 13 live cartridges, one cutlass, one knife and one Honda motorcycle.

According to him, the suspect failed to give a satisfactory account of the possession of the items adding that investigation further revealed that he was allegedly en route to deliver the recovered cartridges to his commander at a forest area within Mansur axis of Alkaleri local government, Bauchi State.

“The suspect is currently in police custody and investigation is ongoing to unravel the full extent of his involvement and to apprehend other members. 

“Further developments will be communicated as investigation progresses”, he said.

Aside the arrest of the suspected bandit, the police disclosed that on 21st January, 2026, information was received regarding the abduction of one Honourable Hassan Reuben of Nahuta Village, Tula, Kaltungo local government area of Gombe State.

He said the following swift action and sustained efforts by the police, the victim was successfully rescued unhurt on the same date through the combined efforts of police operatives attached to Awak and Tula Divisions, Vigilantes and local hunters at Tule Berbere, a few kilometres from Kunge Village, Awak, Kaltungo local government.

“The victim was immediately taken to hospital for medical evaluation and has since rejoined his family safely.

“Additionally, three suspected female strongly suspected to be spouses/accomplices of the perpetrators were apprehended within the area where the victim was rescued.