Authorities from the Katsina State Police Command have arrested a 21-year-old man named Halilu Yusuf in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a six-year-old boy. The police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, provided this information during a press briefing on Wednesday in Katsina.
He stated, “On August 17, at approximately 2 PM, acting on reliable intelligence, the command successfully arrested Halilu Yusuf, 21, from Gezawa, near Shinkafi village, in relation to a suspected kidnapping case involving a six-year-old child.”
According to the ASP, the suspect enticed and abducted the child, who is the son of his mentor, from the Kofar-Sauri area, subsequently demanding a ransom of N2 million from the father.
Aliyu further disclosed that the suspect kept the boy in his room overnight before relocating him to another location for safekeeping, unaware that police operatives were monitoring his movements.
The spokesperson elaborated that the suspect made an anonymous phone call to inform the father about his son’s kidnapping. “Upon receiving the report, the command promptly mobilized operatives led by the DPO GRA, Katsina, who took immediate action. The team successfully tracked down and apprehended the suspect, and the victim was rescued unharmed,” he noted.
Additionally, he mentioned that during the investigation, the suspect admitted to committing the crime. Aliyu confirmed that the suspect will face charges in court following the conclusion of the investigation.