Law enforcement frees abducted person, detains 10 alleged kidnappers in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has successfully rescued a nine-year-old boy, Ubaiyu Muhammad Sammani, who was kidnapped in Kano, and apprehended 10 suspects allegedly involved in the abduction, in a major breakthrough for the force.

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The command's efforts, led by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, resulted in the boy being rescued unhurt on Friday, following weeks of meticulous intelligence-led operations, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa.

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CSP Kiyawa disclosed this information in a statement issued on Friday, revealing that the operation was carried out under the watchful eye of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.

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The boy was kidnapped on July 6, and his father reported the incident to the police on July 9, after the abductors demanded a ransom of $30,000 for his release, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

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Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit conducted an intensive investigation, utilizing intelligence gathering, technical support, and community-based information, which ultimately led to the arrest of 10 suspects, comprising nine men and one woman.

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Commending the operatives, Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori stated that the successful rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects demonstrate the command's unwavering resolve to eradicate kidnapping and other violent crimes through proactive, intelligence-led policing.

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Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly played various roles in the crime, including unlawful trespass, keeping the victim in captivity, communicating ransom demands, and facilitating his movement between locations.

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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, who is currently at large, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend him.

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The police rescued the victim at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday at Karshen Kwata, Rimin Kebbe, behind the residence of the fleeing suspect in Inusawa, Ungogo Local Government Area.

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The boy was immediately taken to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for a medical examination, which confirmed that he was unharmed, much to the relief of the authorities.

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Commissioner Bakori assured residents that the command would continue to pursue all those involved in kidnapping and related crimes until they were brought to justice, reaffirming the force's commitment to protecting lives and property.

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Bakori emphasized that every individual connected to this crime would be tracked down and made to face the full weight of the law, while also appealing to residents to sustain their cooperation with security agencies by providing timely and credible information.

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The commissioner stressed that public support remains vital to the success of the police, urging residents to continue sharing useful information with the authorities and assuring them that every piece of information received would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

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The police stated that the 10 suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation, as the command seeks to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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In a separate incident, the Ondo State Police Command rescued 12 passengers who were abducted by suspected kidnappers in Isua Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state, in May.

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The command's spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, revealing that the victims were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday after gunmen intercepted two commercial buses travelling from Benue State to Ibadan in Oyo State.

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According to DSP Jimoh, security operatives launched a rescue operation shortly after the attack, leading to the safe recovery of all 12 victims, in a swift and successful operation.