Police arrest suspected kidnapper, rescue 18-month-old victim

Kano State Police apprehended a 22-year-old alleged kidnapper, Zakariyya Muhammad, who is a resident of Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters, just sixteen hours after the kidnapping incident occurred.

The Police Command’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi, confirming the arrest in a press statement, on Tuesday, Haruna Kiyawa, said: “On 04/07/2024 at about 4 pm, a report was received from a resident of Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters, Kano that he received a phone call from an unknown person, who claimed to have kidnapped his 2½-year-old daughter, Amina and demanded N2m ransom for her release.”

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba, mobilised a team of the Anti-kidnapping Squad, led by SP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal, with a directive to rescue the victim within 24 hours, and to ensure the arrest of the suspect.”

“Consequently, the squad swung into action, and with sustained efforts, coupled with intelligence-led technical operations, it led to the arrest of the suspect, Zakariyya Muhammad, ‘M’, aged 22 years, of Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters, Kano on 05/07/2024 by 8 am, i.e. 16 hours after the kidnap incident.”

According to the statement, the suspect, who coincidentally is a neighbour to the victim, confessed to having singlehandedly committed the offence and led the detectives to where she held the victim hostage.

“Subsequently, the victim was rescued unhurt in an isolated area in their neighbourhood and rushed to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where she was examined, certified healthy, and discharged.”

The Commissioner of Police (CP) has reassured the public that the command will not tolerate such heinous crimes, vowing to utilize all available resources to prevent future criminal acts and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The CP expressed gratitude to the law-abiding citizens of the state for their support and encouraged the community to remain watchful and collaborative in reporting criminal activities.

“In case of emergencies, Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following mobile phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926, or login to the NPF Rescue Me Application available in the Play Store, or through the following Online Media Platforms:

Facebook: Kano State Police Command

Twitter: Kano State Police Command (@KanoPoliceNG)

Instagram: Kano State Police Command

Tiktok: Kano State Police Command.”