“He Allegedly Supplied Drugs to Bandits” — Police Arrest 23-Year-Old in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man accused of supplying illicit drugs to armed bandits, as separate security operations across the state uncovered thousands of suspected drug tablets and capsules and exposed alleged supply networks involving several fleeing suspects.

The arrest of Abdullahi Muntari in Bakori on October 9 was among a series of operations conducted between October 9 and 17, 2026, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), local vigilantes and police operatives.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, 41 pieces of a substance suspected to be ICE were recovered from Muntari, who allegedly confessed that his elder brother, Adamu Muntari, supplied the substance. The police said Adamu was still at large and that the younger suspect admitted distributing the substance in Kakumi village and neighbouring communities.

The operations also uncovered a separate suspected drug distribution channel in Charanci Local Government Area. On October 13, vigilantes in Kartaka village intercepted a red motorcycle carrying three men identified as Babangida Mamman, 40, Basiru Isah and Saminu Sada.

The police said the men refused to stop when signalled, resulting in a pursuit during which they sustained varying degrees of injuries. They were subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment. A search reportedly yielded 2,000 Pregabalin tablets, 765 Exol tablets and 29 Tramadol capsules.

During questioning, the suspects allegedly told investigators that they had travelled to Karofi village in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area to obtain the drugs from a man identified as Abba M, who has since gone into hiding, according to the police.

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Another operation on October 17 along Mani-Dutsi Road, near Magami village, led to the arrest of three men: Umar Lawal, 27; Hashimu Lawal, 27; and Basiru Wada, 38. Police said they recovered Pregabalin capsules, Exol tablets and dried green leaves suspected to be Indian hemp from the suspects, who allegedly identified Musa Magami as their supplier. He is also being sought.

In total, the command reported recovering 2,970 pieces of suspected illicit drugs, including Pregabalin, Exol, Tramadol and substances suspected to be ICE and Indian hemp, from the separate operations.

Beyond the seizures, the cases have drawn attention to the alleged network of suppliers operating across different communities, with several individuals named by arrested suspects still at large. However, the allegations against those arrested and the identities of the alleged suppliers remain subject to investigation.

The police said investigations were continuing and that efforts had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects and establish the full extent of the alleged distribution network.

The command did not indicate whether the recovered substances had undergone laboratory testing or whether formal charges had been filed against the arrested men.