Police arrest 22-year-old over grandfather kidnapping in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Sani Dikko, over the alleged kidnapping of his grandfather and the collection of N3m ransom for his release.

Dikko was arrested alongside two other 22-year-olds, Kabir Sani and Salisu Bello, by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit during a patrol around Marabar Shema Village in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Fage.

Aliyu said the suspects were apprehended at about 8:23pm on September 12 following intelligence gathered during a confidence-building patrol.

According to the police, preliminary investigation showed that Dikko allegedly served as an informant in the abduction of his grandfather, identified as Alhaji Lawal.

The victim was said to have spent 16 days in captivity before his family paid N3m to secure his release.

The command said the three suspects had confessed to the alleged offence and were being detained while detectives investigated their activities and possible connections to a wider criminal network.

Meanwhile, police operatives in another operation rescued two women abducted by armed bandits in Kankia Local Government Area.

The victims, identified as 45-year-old Assubi Rabe and 27-year-old Rabi Isyaku, were abducted from Sha’iskawa Fulani Village at about 12:45am on September 14.

The police said about eight armed men attacked the community before abducting the two women.

Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Kankia mobilised officers to the area, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the attackers.

The command said the bandits eventually fled into the bush after being overpowered by the police team, allowing the officers to rescue both women unharmed.

Commissioner Fage commended the officers involved in the operations and pledged that the command would sustain its efforts to tackle kidnapping and banditry across Katsina State.

He also urged residents to provide security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist in preventing attacks and arresting suspected criminals.