Katsina: Police to arraign neighbour, five others over kidnap of schoolboy
Katsina Police to Charge Suspects in Kidnapping Case
KATSINA, Nigeria — The Katsina State Police Command announced plans to arraign a neighbor of an eight-year-old boy’s family alongside five other individuals arrested in connection with the boy’s kidnapping in the Katsina metropolis.
In a statement issued Sunday, Public Relations Officer Abubakar Aliyu reported that the suspects were apprehended by the command’s newly formed Violent Crime Response Unit.
The victim was abducted on May 13, 2026, while returning from Islamic school. Following the abduction, the suspects contacted the family, demanding a ransom of 50 million naira.
After negotiations, the family paid 17 million naira for the boy’s release.
Aliyu indicated that an investigation commenced after the incident, leading to the tracking and arrest of the suspects on May 23, 2026, based on credible intelligence.
The identified suspects include 39-year-old Nura Aliyu, alleged to be the mastermind and the victim’s neighbor, alongside Abubakar Aminu (37), Ibrahim Muhammad (51), Iliyasu Sani (51), Abubakar Muhammad (27), and Abdullahi Isma’il (30).
According to Aliyu, the suspects have confessed to their involvement and have named another accomplice who remains at large. Authorities recovered several items from the suspects, including a Peugeot 307 vehicle, a Boxer motorcycle, and 7.5 million naira believed to be part of the ransom.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the suspects will be charged in court upon the completion of the investigation, and efforts to locate the fleeing suspect are ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their prompt action and reiterated the command’s commitment to addressing kidnapping and other violent crimes within the state.
