BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have dismantled a seven-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for the abduction of an eight-year-old boy in Katsina metropolis, recovering ₦7.5 million believed to be part of the ransom paid by the victim’s family.
The breakthrough operation, led by the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa Fage, also resulted in the recovery of a Peugeot 307 vehicle and a Boxer motorcycle allegedly used by the suspects during the crime.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, describing the operation as a major success in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and violent crimes in the state.
According to the statement, the young victim was abducted on May 13, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m. while returning home from an Islamic school within Katsina metropolis.
Police investigations revealed that the kidnappers contacted the family the following day and demanded a ransom of ₦50 million for the boy’s release. After days of negotiations and mounting pressure on the family, the ransom was reportedly reduced, with the family eventually paying ₦17 million before the child regained freedom.
Following the report of the incident, operatives attached to the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) immediately swung into action, launching an intelligence-driven investigation aimed at identifying and apprehending those behind the abduction.
The painstaking investigation paid off on Friday, May 23, when security operatives tracked down and arrested six members of the syndicate in different locations.
Those arrested include 39-year-old Nura Aliyu, who police identified as the alleged mastermind of the operation and a neighbour to the victim’s family. Other suspects arrested are Abubakar Aminu, 37; Ibrahim Muhammad, 51; Iliyasu Sani, 51; Abubakar Muhammad, 27; and Abdullahi Isma’il, 30.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime and provided useful information that led investigators to uncover the structure of the syndicate and its mode of operation.
Police further disclosed that the suspects identified another accomplice, simply known as Abdul, who is currently at large. A manhunt has since been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspect and bring him to justice.
Items recovered during the operation include ₦7.5 million cash suspected to be part of the ransom proceeds, a Peugeot 307 saloon car, a Boxer motorcycle, mobile phones, and other exhibits believed to have been used in carrying out the kidnapping.
Commending the operatives for what he described as a swift, professional and intelligence-led operation, Commissioner of Police Fage reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across Katsina State.
He assured residents that the police would continue to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The police spokesman added that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
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