The Katsina State Police Command has busted a seven-man kidnapping syndicate and recovered N7.5 million believed to be part of a ransom paid for the release of an abducted eight-year-old boy.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, May 23, 2026. He said the syndicate was responsible for the abduction of the child in Katsina metropolis.
According to the police spokesperson, one of the suspects, Nura Aliyu, was identified as the mastermind of the operation and was also a neighbour to the victim’s family.
Aliyu said the victim was abducted on May 13, 2026, while returning from an Islamic school.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the family the following day and demanded N50 million ransom for the boy’s release.
After negotiations, the family paid N17 million before the child was eventually freed.
Following the report, police operatives launched an investigation and tracked down six members of the gang on Friday, May 23.
“Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Ali Umar Fage, psc(+), mnips, have successfully busted a seven-man kidnapping syndicate responsible for the kidnapping of an eight-year-old boy in Katsina metropolis,” the statement read.
“On May 13, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., the victim, whose name is withheld, was kidnapped while returning from an Islamic school.
“The following day, the suspects contacted the family and demanded N50 million ransom. Following negotiations, N17 million was paid to secure the release of the victim.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the command swung into action. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives tracked and arrested six members of the syndicate on May 23, 2026.”
The suspects arrested were identified as Nura Aliyu, 39; Abubakar Aminu, 37; Ibrahim Muhammad, 51; Iliyasu Sani, 51; Abubakar Muhammad, 27; and Abdullahi Isma’il, 30.
According to the statement, the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation and mentioned one Abdul, who is currently at large, as an accomplice.
The police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.
Items recovered from the suspects include a Peugeot 307 vehicle, a Boxer motorcycle, and N7.5 million cash believed to be part of the ransom money.
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the operatives for the successful operation and assured residents of the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
He added that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
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