An intelligence-led operation by the Kano State Police Command has led to the rescue of a nine-year-old boy who was kidnapped and held for a $30,000 ransom, while 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
The victim, Ubaiyu Muhammad Sammani, was abducted on July 6, 2026, from Rimin Kebbe Quarters in Kano. His family was thrown into panic after the kidnappers demanded $30,000 to secure his freedom.
Three days later, on July 9, the incident was reported to the Kano State Police Command, triggering a coordinated operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the police, investigators relied on technical support, intelligence gathering, community information, and sustained surveillance to track those behind the abduction.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects—nine men and one woman—who allegedly played different roles in the kidnapping, including keeping the victim in captivity, making ransom demands, and moving him from one hideout to another.
Police identified Abubakar Salihu, popularly known as “Sankolo,” a 25-year-old resident of Rimin Kebbe Quarters, as the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping. He is currently on the run, while security operatives continue efforts to apprehend him.
The breakthrough came on July 31, when police operatives stormed a location at Karshen Kwata, Rimin Kebbe, behind the residence of the fleeing suspect in Inusawa, Ungogo Local Government Area, where the boy was rescued at about 8:30 a.m.
The child was found unharmed and immediately taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, for medical evaluation before being reunited with his family.
The Kano State Police Command said the suspects will be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to crushing kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and strong collaboration with residents.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, assuring them that all information would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
