Suspect abducted boy to raise N100k for debt
Man Arrested for Kidnapping Four-Year-Old in Kano
Kano, Nigeria — Aminu Tukur has been arrested for the kidnapping of four-year-old Muhammad Haruna, an abduction he claims was motivated by a need to settle a debt. Tukur, currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), admitted to acting alone in the crime.
In statements made while in custody, Tukur said he sought a ransom of N15 million to resolve his N100,000 debt. He maintained that he planned to return the child unharmed if the ransom was not paid.
Tukur explained that he approached the boy’s family under the guise of taking measurements for new clothes, which allowed him access to the child’s home in the Minjibir Local Government Area. He then transported Muhammad to his sister’s residence, convincing her that the boy’s mother was ill and hospitalized. Tukur kept the child for four days.
Haruna Hamza, the boy’s father, expressed relief after the DSS successfully rescued Muhammad four days post-abduction. “I received my son on February 12, 2026, after he was kidnapped. He is in good health,” Hamza said.
Following the rescue, Hamza was summoned by police, who informed him about the arrest of a woman connected to the case. He provided a statement alongside hers at the police station.
The DSS’s intervention began after receiving a formal complaint regarding Muhammad’s kidnapping, which stipulated a N15 million ransom demand for his release.
