Sokoto state police have apprehended an 18-year-old man, Abba Aliyu, in connection with the kidnapping of a 2-year-old child in the Badon Hanya area of Sokoto.
The child was the son of Aliyu’s neighbour.
According to a statement released by the police spokesperson, ASP Ahmad Rufai, the arrest was made following a successful operation by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.
Rufai explained that the police received a report of the kidnapping and immediately launched an investigation. Through intelligence-led operations, they were able to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Aliyu had contacted the child’s parents demanding a N2 million ransom. The parents, fearing for their child’s safety, paid N500,000 before the child was released.
Upon arrest, Aliyu confessed to the crime and revealed that he had held the child hostage in order to extort money from the parents. A Tecno android mobile phone used for communication with the parents was recovered from him.
“Detectives swiftly coordinated intelligence-led operations, tracing the suspect’s location at Badon hanya behind Zamson filling station which led to his arrest. During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having kidnapped the victim and held him, hostage, to extort money from his parent, while one Tecno android mobile was used in demanding the ransom was recovered from him,” Rufai said.
The suspect will be charged in court once the investigation is complete
