Nigerian security forces have arrested three foreign nationals—one Moroccan and two Togolese—accused of orchestrating serious crimes including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
Troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI detained the Moroccan suspect in Borno State after repelling an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province fighters on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area. Security officials described the arrest as a significant intelligence breakthrough.
The military launched intensive operations following the failed terrorist assault, which led to the suspect's capture. His identity has been withheld pending further investigation.
In a separate operation in Kwara State, the Nigeria Police Force disrupted a kidnapping and extortion scheme, apprehending two Togolese nationals involved in the criminal enterprise. The operation reflected the strategic policing priorities of Inspector-General Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
Police recovered a mobile phone allegedly used by the suspects to make threatening calls during the raid. Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer of Kwara State Police Command, disclosed details of the operation on Wednesday.
The case began when S. Ismaila, a resident of Okuta, lodged a complaint at Okuta Police Division.
He reported receiving repeated threatening calls from an unknown person demanding N22 million to prevent his abduction.
The caller also threatened to kidnap the complainant and murder his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the ransom wasn't paid. Officers activated intelligence-driven strategies immediately upon receiving the report.
Working alongside the Intelligence Response Team and using technical support, operatives tracked down and arrested the two suspects: Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, both Togolese nationals. Preliminary investigations established direct links between them and the criminal conspiracy.
During questioning, both suspects confessed to their involvement in the attempted kidnapping and extortion plot, according to Ejire-Adeyemi. "A mobile phone used to issue the threatening calls was recovered from one of the suspects and has been taken into police custody as a critical exhibit," she said.
