Police arrest suspects over staged kidnapping, rescue two-year-old

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested suspects linked to a staged kidnapping involving a two-year-old child and separately uncovered a suspected kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate.

The Force said operatives of its Intelligence Response Team made the arrests during two intelligence-led investigations.

In the first case, police arrested 34-year-old Nansik Wuyep Sule over the reported kidnapping of two-year-old Rito Jesse Davou.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu, on Friday, investigation revealed that Sule allegedly conspired with the child’s biological mother, Catherine Davou, to stage the kidnapping and create the impression that the child had been abducted.

The police said an initial ransom demand of ₦7 million was made, before the demand was later increased to ₦15 million.

“Further investigation revealed that the child was kept at Sule’s residence,” the police said.

Another suspect, Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was also arrested for allegedly making calls to the child’s grandmother in connection with the ransom demand.

The child was eventually located and safely rescued. The police said he received medical attention before being handed over to his biological father.

In a separate investigation, the IRT arrested Idris Mohammed, also known as Yellow, and Mohammed Bello Adams over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of commercial driver Idris Zakari Baba and other criminal activities.

According to the police, Baba was allegedly lured on the pretext of conveying Mohammed from Abuja to Zaria, before armed men intercepted him and took him into the bush.

The victim was reportedly held until a ransom of ₦3 million was paid.

The police said Baba’s 2012 Toyota Corolla was subsequently traced to Bauchi State, where it was recovered while Mohammed was allegedly attempting to sell the vehicle.

“Further investigation also linked the suspects to the reported kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar,” the police said, adding that a ransom of ₦10.5 million was reportedly paid in that case.

The force said investigations are continuing to identify other persons allegedly connected to the crimes and determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.

“The Nigeria Police Force continues to investigate the cases to identify other persons connected to the criminal activities and establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement,” the statement said.