The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction of three newly passed-out military recruits along the Anka/Bukuyum Road in Zamfara State.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, ANIPR, ANISMA.

According to the statement, the suspects, identified as Abubakar Mallan Abubakar of Gargam Village, Bagega, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and Usman Muhammadu of Ajera, Ilorin, Kwara State, were arrested on August 1 at about 6:15 a.m. during a targeted operation based on credible intelligence.

The police said preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects made useful disclosures regarding the abduction of the three military recruits, who were kidnapped in July 2026 along the Kwanan Mayanchi–Gurusu axis of Zamfara State.

According to the command, one of the victims, Kabiru Hassan, is from Ribah in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while the other two recruits are from Zuru Local Government Area.

The police confirmed that all three victims have regained their freedom.

The command said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar M. Hadejia, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those connected with the abduction.

No fewer than nine people were reportedly killed and burnt beyond recognition, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road crash that occurred late Monday night along the Bauchi–Maiduguri Federal Highway.

The accident was said to have occurred near Zangoro village in Bauchi State and involved a Toyota commercial bus and a MAN diesel tipper truck travelling in opposite directions.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bauchi Sector Command, confirmed the incident in a First Information Report issued on Tuesday.

According to the report, the crash occurred at about 11:20 pm on Monday and was reported to the corps five minutes later. FRSC rescue operatives arrived at the scene at 11:40 pm, recording a response time of 15 minutes.

The Toyota bus, with registration number DRZ133LG, was being used for commercial transportation, while the tipper truck, which had no registration number, was conveying sand.

The FRSC said all 17 occupants involved in the crash were male adults. Nine of them were confirmed dead and burnt beyond recognition, while the remaining eight suffered varying degrees of injuries.

The corps attributed the crash to a tyre burst the vehicles were in motion.

The injured victims were evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were deposited in the hospital mortuary.

The report added that the vehicles involved in the crash and other recovered property had been handed over to the Motor Traffic Division of the Bauchi State Police Command for further investigation.

The rescue operation was led by the Sector Rescue and Maintenance Area Officer in Toro.

The Taraba State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander reported stolen on Tuesday evening in Jalingo after security measures across the city reportedly forced the suspects to abandon the vehicle.

A statement signed and made available to journalists on Tuesday in Jalingo by the command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, said the grey Toyota Highlander, with registration number KRM 75 AA, was stolen at about 8:16 pm near the area opposite Jalingo City Mall, Road Block, Jalingo.

The command said that following the report, police operatives immediately intensified surveillance and monitoring of entry and exit routes within the Jalingo metropolis.

“The increased security presence and strategic deployment of officers pressured the fleeing suspects, who abandoned the stolen vehicle to avoid arrest”, the command stated.

The recovered vehicle is currently in police custody pending further investigation.

Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the theft, assuring residents that all available resources would be deployed to bring the suspects to justice.

The state Commissioner of Police, Moorkwap Sebastian Dongshal, commended officers for their prompt response and vigilance, reaffirming the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and tackling criminal activities across the state.

The police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or criminal activities to security agencies.