The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected members of an alleged terror support network in Bagudo Local Government Area, as investigators probe possible links between the suspects and the recent killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel.
The arrests followed intelligence-led operations targeting criminal logistics routes around the notorious Soda Forest axis and surrounding border communities, security officials said.
Police disclosed that three of the suspects were intercepted by Mobile Police operatives along the Illo–Lolo Road while travelling on a motorcycle from the Soda Forest area towards nearby border settlements.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects were allegedly attempting to procure food supplies for criminal elements operating from forest hideouts.
The suspects were identified as Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar and Muhammadu Aliyu, while the motorcycle used for the journey was recovered by security operatives.
In a related operation along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje corridor, police arrested four additional suspects identified as Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu and Yahaya Shehu.
The latest arrests highlight growing efforts by security agencies to dismantle not only armed groups operating in remote forests but also the supply chains and support structures believed to sustain their activities.
Police authorities said investigators are examining the extent of the suspects’ involvement in terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes, including possible connections to the attack that claimed the lives of three FRSC officers.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Umar M. Hadejia, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in ongoing operations against criminal groups operating across the state.
He praised security operatives for their professionalism and resilience while acknowledging the role of residents whose intelligence reportedly aided the successful operations.
The commissioner assured that intelligence-driven offensives would continue across affected communities to dismantle criminal networks, restrict the movement of terrorists and restore lasting security.
The seven suspects remain in police custody and are expected to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
Security analysts say the operation underscores a growing shift in counterterrorism efforts from targeting armed fighters alone to disrupting the logistics and supply systems that enable criminal groups to survive and operate in forest enclaves across the region.