Police Rescue 9-Year-Old Boy After Nearly Four Weeks in Captivity, Arrest 10 Suspects in Kano
The Kano State Police Command has rescued a nine-year-old boy, Ubaiyu Muhammad Sammani, who was held captive for nearly four weeks after being abducted from Rimin Kebbe Quarters in Kano.
Police also arrested 10 suspects—nine men and one woman—in connection with the kidnapping.
The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of $30,000 for the boy’s release.
According to him, the rescue was carried out on July 31 by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
The boy was found at Karshen Kwalta, Rimin Kebbe, Ungogo Local Government Area, behind the residence of the alleged mastermind, Abubakar Salihu, also known as Sankolo, who is currently on the run.
Kiyawa said preliminary investigations showed that the arrested suspects played different roles in the crime, including abducting the child, keeping him in captivity, communicating ransom demands to the family, and moving him between different locations.
After his rescue, the boy was taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for medical examination, where he was confirmed to be in good health.
Police said the suspects would be charged to court once investigations are completed, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing principal suspect.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori praised the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for successfully rescuing the child and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and community support.
He also urged residents to continue providing useful information to the police, assuring them that all reports would be treated confidentially.
