The Nigerian Army has arrested Sule Yellow, a notorious bandit known for flaunting ransom payments on TikTok and allegedly taking part in multiple kidnappings across northern Nigeria.
The suspect was taken into custody by troops during a night operation carried out on March 15, 2026, as the Nigerian Army continues efforts to dismantle kidnapping and banditry networks operating across the northern region.
An Army source disclosed that the suspect gained notoriety on social media by displaying bundles of cash believed to be proceeds from ransom collected from victims’ families.
Sule Yellow has also been linked to several kidnapping incidents across communities in the North-West and parts of the North-East.
According to the source, the suspect was apprehended shortly after collecting ransom money from relatives of a kidnapping victim.
The arrest, the source said, followed intelligence tracking that led troops to the suspect. During the operation, soldiers reportedly engaged him in a brief gunfight before capturing him.
“He frequently displayed ransom money on TikTok and appeared to use the platform to boast about his activities. His online presence drew the attention of security agencies, which intensified efforts to track him,” the source said.
Sule Yellow had recently appeared in a TikTok livestream alongside another suspected bandit identified as Auta, during which they allegedly discussed ransom collections and other activities linked to banditry.
The livestream reportedly raised further concerns among authorities monitoring the activities of criminal networks operating in northern Nigeria.
“Intelligence gathered from that broadcast helped strengthen the case against him. It became clear that the suspect was openly using social media to glorify criminal acts,” the source added.
Following the arrest, authorities confirmed that the TikTok account associated with the suspect, @suleyellow6, has been disabled as part of ongoing investigations.
