Police Raid Drug Warehouse in Yobe, Arrest Suspect, Recover Hard Drugs

Operatives of the Yobe State Police Command have arrested a suspected drug baron and an alleged kidnapping kingpin during separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Potiskum and surrounding areas of the state.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, who said the operations formed part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

According to the statement, officers attached to the Yindiski Divisional Police Headquarters in Potiskum raided a suspected drug warehouse on July 17, 2026, following credible intelligence.

The warehouse was allegedly operated by 35-year-old Alhaji Abbas of Danchuwa Village in Potiskum Local Government Area.

During the operation, police arrested the suspect and recovered large quantities of illicit drugs believed to have been stored for distribution within and outside the state.

Items recovered included eight cartons containing assorted hard drugs, one and a half “Ghana-Must-Go” bags filled with Tramadol and Exzol tablets, as well as N835,500 suspected to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.

The police said members of the suspected drug syndicate attempted to resist the operation by attacking officers in a bid to free the suspect.

However, the operatives repelled the attack and secured the exhibits despite sustaining minor injuries.

“The injured officers have been taken to hospital and are responding to treatment,” the statement added.

The Command said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who fled during the raid, while the arrested suspect was assisting investigators with useful information.

In a separate operation, detectives attached to the Potiskum Area Command arrested 40-year-old Saidu Mohammed of Jalam Village in Bauchi State, described by the police as a suspected kidnapping kingpin and armed robbery suspect.

According to the police, Mohammed had been on the Command’s watchlist for his alleged involvement in criminal activities across Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe states.

His arrest followed a complaint lodged on July 11 by a resident who reported receiving a threatening telephone call demanding N10 million.

The caller allegedly warned the victim to relocate or face death if the ransom was not paid.

Police said a technically driven investigation enabled detectives to trace the phone number used for the threat and subsequently arrest the suspect.

The Command said preliminary investigations linked Mohammed to cross-border kidnapping operations and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged criminal network.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling organised crime across the state and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to assist security agencies in preventing criminal activities and ensuring public safety.