Police rescue four-year-old boy, arrest two kidnap suspects in Bauchi
Bauchi Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four-Year-Old
The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended two individuals suspected of kidnapping after a rapid, intelligence-driven operation led to the rescue of a four-year-old boy.
According to a statement released by police spokesperson SP Nafiu Habib on Friday, detectives from the State Intelligence Department acted on a complaint filed by the victim’s father. The family resides in the Gida Dudu Housing Estate in Bauchi.
The incident began on June 9, 2026, when the child, Musa (surname withheld), was reportedly abducted from in front of his house. The father, a 45-year-old resident of the estate, promptly notified the police of the kidnapping.
Investigations revealed that one of the suspects, 39-year-old Muhammad Usman, allegedly enticed the child away from his residence and took him to the home of a second suspect, 40-year-old Hayatudeen Ahmad, also living in the same estate. To cover his actions, Usman falsely claimed that the boy was his sister’s child and that she was gravely ill. He argued that it was too late to travel to Kano and requested Ahmad to care for the child overnight, assuring him they would leave for Kano the following day.
Subsequent inquiries determined that Usman had sent a ransom note to the boy’s family, demanding a sum of N5 million and specifying a phone number for contact regarding the payment.
The child has been safely reunited with his family, the statement confirmed. Both suspects remain in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Aliyu Sani-Omolori praised the detectives for their professionalism and swift action. He also encouraged parents and guardians to educate their children about the dangers posed by strangers and to remain vigilant by reporting any suspicious activity involving children to local law enforcement.
