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Security operatives in Kebbi State have arrested a teenage boy accused of posing as deaf and mute for nearly a year while secretly gathering intelligence for kidnapping gangs in the state capital.
The suspect, identified as 13-year-old Abubakar Ibrahim, was apprehended after authorities uncovered his alleged role as an informant for criminal groups operating in the Makera Gandu area of Birnin Kebbi. According to reports, the teenager reportedly pretended to live with hearing and speech impairments in order to gain the sympathy and trust of residents.
By maintaining the disguise, the boy was able to move freely within the community without attracting suspicion. Residents reportedly offered him assistance and alms, believing he was vulnerable. Investigators say he used the opportunity to closely monitor the daily activities and movements of people in the neighborhood.
A source within the local government familiar with the development disclosed on Tuesday, March 3, that the teenager allegedly gathered detailed information about residents’ routines before passing it on to kidnappers. The intelligence reportedly enabled the criminal groups to plan and carry out abductions with minimal difficulty.
During questioning by security officials, the suspect allegedly confessed to being part of a small network of youths recruited for similar surveillance roles. He reportedly told investigators that two other teenagers were also assigned to monitor different communities and provide information to the kidnappers.
The boy further claimed that individuals who trained them to communicate using sign language were based in the Harasawa area of Birnin Kebbi. He also told investigators that he originally hails from Niger State.
Security agencies are continuing investigations to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected kidnapping network. Authorities say the case highlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics being used by criminal groups to infiltrate communities and gather intelligence before carrying out attacks.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies as efforts continue to dismantle kidnapping operations across the region.
