Police foil robbery operation, arrest suspects over toddler abduction in Jigawa
Jigawa State Police Foil Armed Robbery, Arrest Two in Child Abduction Case
The Jigawa State Police Command announced the successful foiling of a suspected armed robbery operation and the arrest of two individuals in connection with the alleged abduction of a toddler.
According to police spokesperson Lawan Shiisu Adam, officers from the Violent Crime Response Unit were conducting routine patrols near Rashid Shekoni Teaching Hospital in Dutse when they encountered a tinted Sharon Galaxy vehicle with seven occupants exhibiting suspicious behavior at approximately 3 a.m. on Thursday.
When signaled to stop for security checks, the driver of the vehicle fled, prompting a chase by the police. The pursuit concluded at Baranda Bush, where the suspects halted the vehicle and opened fire on the police in an attempt to evade capture. The officers returned fire, leading to the suspects abandoning the vehicle and fleeing into the surrounding area. One suspect was found injured inside the vehicle and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Authorities recovered several items from the vehicle, including two machetes, three sticks, ropes, and a Tecno mobile phone. Police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects, and investigations are ongoing.
In a separate incident, police arrested two individuals in connection with the abduction of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy from the pediatric ward of Babura General Hospital. Officers acted on intelligence following reports of the missing child and apprehended 20-year-old Khadija Aliyu on the outskirts of the town with the child.
Further inquiries led to the arrest of Sadik Sale Yahaya, a nursing officer at the hospital, who is alleged to have conspired with Aliyu to take the child. Authorities stated that Aliyu admitted to planning to transport the child to an orphanage in Kaduna State with the intent to sell him for 2 million naira.
The rescued child has been placed in protective custody and will be reunited with family once required procedures are completed. Both suspects are in police custody as investigations continue.
Jigawa State Commissioner of Police Tijjani Murtala commended the officers involved in both operations and urged residents to provide valuable information to assist in combating crime in the state.
