Police nab Chadian murder fugitive hiding in Kano

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a Chadian national wanted over the alleged murder of Nazik Mahamat Saleh and repatriated him to Chad to face the judicial process.

The suspect, Mahadijiria Abdoulaye, was arrested by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, on August 5, 2026, at Railway Quarters in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the arrest followed coordinated intelligence operations.

According to him, the Court of Appeal in N’Djamena had issued an international warrant of arrest for Abdoulaye and his alleged accomplice, Fatime Senoussi Mouktar, on June 22, 2026, in connection with the murder case.

Iniedu said Abdoulaye was wanted over the alleged torture and killing of Saleh on May 3, 2026. He added that the suspect was also allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking in Chad before fleeing to Nigeria.

Following his arrest, Abdoulaye was repatriated to N’Djamena on August 14 through Lomé, Togo, under established bilateral police cooperation arrangements.

The operation was coordinated by INTERPOL NCB Abuja in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB N’Djamena to ensure the suspect was returned to Chad to face the judicial process.

Commending the operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, praised the INTERPOL NCB Abuja operatives for their professionalism and coordination with their Chadian counterparts.

Disu said the arrest and repatriation demonstrated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring that fugitives do not evade justice by crossing international borders.

The Force said it would continue to use international policing channels and partnerships to track wanted persons, disrupt transnational criminal networks and prevent fugitives from using Nigeria as a safe haven.