Kano State Police Command has rescued a nine-year-old boy, Ubaiyu Muhammad Sammani, who was abducted earlier this month, and arrested 10 suspects in connection with the crime.
The nine-year-old kidnap victim, a resident of Rimin Kebbe Quarters in Kano, was rescued unharmed on Friday following what the police described as sustained intelligence-led operations and community collaboration.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the rescue was carried out by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
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The statement said the boy’s father reported the incident to the police on July 9, disclosing that his son had been kidnapped on July 6 by unidentified persons.
The abductors were said to have demanded a ransom of 30,000 US dollars for the child’s release.
Following the report, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an investigation, deploying technical support, intelligence gathering and community-based information, which led to the arrest of 10 suspects comprising nine men and one woman.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects played different roles in the kidnapping, including unlawful trespass, holding the victim captive, communicating ransom demands and facilitating his movement to various locations.
The Command identified one Abubakar Salihu, popularly known as “Sankolo,” a 25-year-old resident of Rimin Kebbe Quarters, as the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping. He remains at large, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.
The victim was rescued at about 8:30 a.m. on July 31 at Karshen Kwata, Rimin Kebbe, behind the residence of the fleeing suspect in Inusawa, Ungogo Local Government Area.
He was immediately taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for medical examination and was confirmed to be unharmed.
Police said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Commending the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its professionalism,
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori reaffirmed the Command’s determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes through proactive policing and collaboration with residents.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, assuring them that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.