Kaduna : Police capture notorious bandit after 11 years on the run

A man described by authorities as a notorious bandit who has eluded arrest for over a decade has finally been apprehended in Kaduna State.

According to the Kaduna State Police Command, the suspect, identified as Mati Bagio, 34, from Unguwan Galadima in Shika District of Giwa LGAwas captured in a dawn operation on Friday.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, revealed in a statement that the arrest came following actionable intelligence.

“On Friday, 5:30am, acting on credible intelligence, a team of detectives led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, CSP Sani Zuntu, successfully tracked and arrested the notorious gang leader,” Hassan said.

He noted that Bagio was believed to be the mastermind behind a string of attacks in both Kaduna and Katsina States, specifically in the Giwa, Hunkuyi, Faskari, Dandume, and Funtua Local Government Areas.

“He has been on the run for the past eleven years, he was just apprehended at his residence, where a significant cache of arms and ammunition was recovered,” Hassan added.

The police reportedly seized a range of weapons and ammunition from the suspect, including an AK-47 rifle, a locally-made AK-47, a pump-action shotgun, two English pistols, and various types of magazines and ammunition. Additional items recovered included four fabricated rifle butts, a machete, two torch lights, and an unjamming rod.

Hassan emphasized that the arrest represented a major success in the ongoing efforts to rid the state of illegal firearms and enhance public safety.

He said, “The suspect is currently in police custody and undergoing further investigation, after which he will be charged to Court. Also, efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing gang members.”

In a separate development, Hassan reported that a stolen black Toyota Prado, which had been snatched at gunpoint in Abuja, was tracked to Kaduna.

“Upon receipt of the intelligence, a patrol and surveillance team from Kawo Division was immediately dispatched to the area. The location was swiftly cordoned and the stolen vehicle was successfully recovered. Unfortunately, the suspect fled the scene upon sighting the police team,” he said.

The SUV has since been towed to a police station and will be handed over to the FCT Command, which is handling the case.

Additionally, on Tuesday at around 2:00 p.m., police arrested four suspects believed to be involved in motorcycle thefts after receiving a tip-off.

“They tracked down and arrested one Yusuf Yakubu of Amana Village, Abubakar Jibrin and Mustapha Aliyu at Anguwan Rimi, as well as Yunusa Yusuf from Kujama,” Hassan stated.

According to him, the group had been targeting motorcycle owners—sometimes injuring or killing them to steal their bikes. Two stolen motorcycles were recovered during the raid.

“All suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue to uncover other possible accomplices and to recover more stolen property,” Hassan said.
Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, lauded the officers for their decisive action and urged the public to continue supporting law enforcement through credible intelligence sharing.