Operatives of the Kebbi Police Command have arrested a teenage boy for supplying community intelligence to bandit gangs across Kebbi communities while pretending to be deaf.
The suspect, an indigene of Niger State, reportedly spent nearly a year in Kebbi villages, faking a hearing impairment to gain the trust of locals.
“He moved freely within the communities, collecting information that enabled bandits to target victims and villages with precision,” a police source said on Tuesday.
Investigations revealed that the teenager operated mainly in the Makera Gandu area of Birnin Kebbi, observing daily routines and relaying sensitive information to criminal networks.
During interrogation, he confirmed that two other teenagers were engaged in similar surveillance tasks, trained in sign language by bandits based in the Harasawa area of the state.
Although the teenager did not participate directly in abductions, police said his intelligence significantly enhanced the bandits’ operational effectiveness.
“This is a worrying development, showing how criminals are exploiting community trust for their schemes,” the police source added.
The arrest has sparked fear and frustration among residents, highlighting gaps in local vigilance and security oversight.
The Kebbi Police Command said it is reviewing community engagement strategies to prevent future infiltration attempts, and confirmed that the teenager is cooperating with authorities.
