The Kaduna State Police Command says it has arrested a notorious bandit leader who has been on the run for 11 years.
In a statement on Friday in Kaduna, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the state police command, said the suspect, identified as Mati Bagio, 34, was arrested in the early hours of Friday at his residence in Unguwan Galadima, Shika Giwa Local Government Area of the state, following a sting operations.
The statement said, Bagio led a violent gang responsible for multiple attacks across Kaduna and Katsina states, especially in Giwa, Hunkuyi, Faskari, Dandume, and Funtua
“This arrest is a major breakthrough in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks and remove illegal arms from our communities,” Hassan said.
The statement said a cache of weapons and ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
Hassan said the recovered weapons include an AK-47 rifle, a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, two English pistols, and two AK-47 magazines.
Other weapons recovered according to the statement, were two LAR rifle magazines, four fabricated AK-47 rifle butts, 10 pump-action cartridges, 87 pistol rounds and a machete, among others.
“The suspect is currently in our custody and undergoing investigation. Efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining gang members who are still at large”, Hassan said.
Hassan added that in a separate operation, police recovered a stolen Toyota Prado SUV in Kaduna on Thursday, July 17, 2025. He said the vehicle was snatched at gunpoint in Abuja and was tracked to the Unguwan Gwari area in Kaduna.
“Following a distress call received at about 2:00 a.m, police operatives from the Kawo Division swiftly responded to intelligence that led them to Shema Filling Station,”
“The stolen vehicle was recovered, but the suspect fled the scene before he could be apprehended.
“The Prado Jeep has been taken into custody and will be handed over to the FCT Police Command, where the robbery was initially reported,” he added.
The police spokesperson said further that on July 15, 2025, four suspects involved in a motorcycle theft syndicate were arrested.
The suspects, according to him, include Yusuf Yakubu of Amana village; Abubakar Jibrin, Mustapha Aliyu of Unguwan Rimi; and Yunusa Yusuf of Kujama
“These suspects specialize in attacking, maiming, or killing cyclists before stealing their motorcycles. Two stolen bikes were recovered during the operation, “Hassan said.
He added that all the suspects were in custody while further investigations were ongoing.
Police nab notorious bandits’ leader in Kaduna after 11 years on the run
