Police bust seven-man kidnap syndicate in Katsina, recover N7.5m ransom

The Katsina State Police Command has dismantled a seven-man kidnapping ring responsible for the abduction of an eight-year-old boy in Katsina metropolis. Six suspects have been apprehended by the Violent Crime Response Unit, while one, identified only as Abdul, remains at large.

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Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Ali Umar Fage, psc(+), mnips, have successfully busted a 7-man kidnapping syndicate responsible for the kidnapping of an 8-year-old boy in Katsina Metropolis.

The syndicate initially demanded N50 million in ransom from the victim's family after kidnapping the boy on May 13, 2026, as he returned from an Islamic school. Following negotiations, the family paid N17 million to secure the child's release. Operatives acted swiftly on credible intelligence, tracking and arresting six members of the gang on May 23, 2026.

Those arrested include Nura Aliyu, 39, described as the mastermind and a neighbor to the victim's family, along with Abubakar Aminu, 37, Ibrahim Muhammad, 51, Iliyasu Sani, 51, Abubakar Muhammad, 27, and Abdullahi Isma’il, 30. The suspects confessed to the crime and implicated Abdul as an accomplice. A manhunt for the fugitive suspect is underway.

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Acting on credible intelligence, operatives tracked and arrested 6 members of the syndicate today, May 23rd, 2026.

During the investigation, police recovered a Peugeot 307 car, a Boxer motorcycle, and N7.5 million in cash, believed to be part of the ransom payment. Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, praised the operatives for their success and assured residents of the command's commitment to combating kidnapping and violent crime.

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During the investigation, 1 Peugeot 307, 1 Boxer motorcycle, and a cash sum of ₦7,500,000, being part of the ransom money, were recovered from the suspects as exhibits, among others.