The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued a four-year-old boy following an intelligence-led operation in Bauchi.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday. He said detectives from the State Intelligence Department successfully tracked and apprehended the suspects after receiving a kidnapping complaint from the victim’s father.
According to the statement, the 45-year-old father, a resident of Gida Dudu Housing Estate in Bauchi, reported that his four-year-old son, Musa (surname withheld), had been abducted from the frontage of their residence.
The spokesperson said, “On June 10, 2026, the command acted on a formal complaint of kidnapping lodged by a 45-year-old father, a resident of Gida Dudu Housing Estate, Bauchi. The complainant reported that his son, Musa, a four-year-old boy, was abducted from the frontage of their residence.”
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects, identified as Muhammad Usman, 39, allegedly lured the child away from his home on June 9 and subsequently took him to the residence of the second suspect, Hayatudeen Ahmad, 40, who lives in the same estate.
“To conceal his crime, Muhammad Usman deceived Hayatudeen Ahmad, claiming the boy was his sister’s son and that she was critically ill. He further claimed it was too late to travel to Kano that night and pleaded with the second suspect to keep the child overnight, promising to take him to their family in Kano the following day,” he said.
The police further disclosed that the suspect later wrote a ransom note demanding N5 million from the victim’s family.
“Upon receiving the complaint, the detectives swung into action, tracked the suspects, and proceeded to the house of the second suspect, where the victim was found alive and in good health. The child has since been reunited with his family.
“Both suspects are currently in police custody and are cooperating with investigators. A discreet investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident is ongoing, after which the duo will be charged in court,” he said.
Habib also revealed that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the detectives for their professionalism and prompt response.
He said the commissioner reassured residents that the command remained committed to safeguarding the lives and property of the people, warning that perpetrators of kidnapping and other crimes would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The police commissioner also advised parents and guardians to teach their children not to trust strangers, to remain vigilant, and to promptly report any suspicious activity involving children to the nearest police station.
