Troops Eliminate Notorious Kidnap Kingpin Amadu in Bold Raid on Kaduna Hideout

By Tgnews Reporter

Nigerian troops have neutralised a high-profile kidnapping kingpin identified as Amadu during a fierce raid in Malafiya town, Atiku Ward, Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The operation, carried out on January 25, 2026, targeted the hideout of Amadu’s criminal syndicate, which had long held sway over Malafiya and neighbouring communities through a reign of kidnapping, cattle rustling, and armed robbery.

Security sources described Amadu as one of the region’s most wanted figures, with his gang linked to multiple high-profile incidents. These include the murder of a businessman in September 2025 and an attempted abduction of a relative of a prominent local personality.

Acting on credible intelligence about the gang’s location, troops launched the raid to apprehend remaining members of the syndicate. The operation quickly escalated into a firefight as the suspects engaged the security forces.

“In the course of the engagement, Amadu attempted to escape and was neutralised,” sources familiar with the operation told security analysts. A subsequent search of the scene recovered a locally made pistol, providing further evidence of the group’s armed activities.

The elimination of Amadu marks a significant blow to organised crime in the area. Residents report that calm has returned to the general vicinity since the raid, with troops now intensifying clearance operations and confidence-building patrols to deter any potential resurgence of criminal elements.

This latest success underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle kidnapping networks plaguing parts of Kaduna State and restore safety to rural communities long plagued by banditry and abduction.

Authorities have not yet released further details on potential arrests or additional recoveries, but the operation has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against insecurity in the region.