Troops Kill Notorious Kidnap Kingpin in Jama’a LGA, Kaduna

Troops have neutralised a notorious kidnapping kingpin, identified as Amadu, during a raid in Malafiya town, Atiku Ward of Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Security sources said Amadu led a criminal syndicate that had terrorised Malafiya and neighbouring communities, carrying out kidnappings, cattle rustling and armed robbery.

According to the sources, Amadu was on the most-wanted list of security agencies and was linked to several high-profile crimes in the area. These include the killing of a businessman in September 2025 and an attempted abduction involving a relative of a prominent local figure.

The sources said troops acted on credible intelligence and carried out a raid on the gang’s hideout on January 25, 2026, in a bid to arrest the remaining members of the group. An exchange of gunfire reportedly occurred during the operation.

“During the encounter, Amadu attempted to flee and was neutralised. A search of the area led to the recovery of a locally made pistol,” the sources said.

They added that calm has since been restored in the area, while clearance operations and confidence-building patrols have been intensified to prevent a resurgence of criminal activities.