Court remands 5 over alleged robbery, kidnapping

A Kano State High Court has ordered the remand of five suspects over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and criminal conspiracy. The defendants, Ado Yunusa, popularly known as Gidan Kara, Umar Abdullahi (Kafada Kwata), Jamilu Akilu, Shafiu Adamu and Abubakar Umar (Ruwa), were arraigned before the court by the state prosecution counsel, Lamido […]

A Kano State High Court has ordered the remand of five suspects over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and criminal conspiracy.

The defendants, Ado Yunusa, popularly known as Gidan Kara, Umar Abdullahi (Kafada Kwata), Jamilu Akilu, Shafiu Adamu and Abubakar Umar (Ruwa), were arraigned before the court by the state prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Sorondinki.

The prosecution slammed multiple charges against the defendants, including conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms and murder.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons allegedly conspired and carried out a series of attacks on residents of Gezawa village, where several houses were reportedly invaded and valuables stolen.

The prosecution further informed the court that the suspects allegedly kidnapped an elderly woman and collected a ransom of N65 million before releasing her.

They were also accused of killing a member of a local vigilante group during the operation.

Sorondinki told the court that investigations led to the recovery of 12 AK-47 rifles from Ado Yunusa, who was alleged to have supplied weapons to the group.

When the charges were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution subsequently applied for leave of the court to present witnesses to substantiate the allegations against the accused persons. Counsel to the defendants, however, urged the court to grant his clients bail.

After listening to submissions from both parties, the presiding judge granted the prosecution leave to present its witnesses at the next adjourned date.

The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending further hearing and adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.