Operatives of Katsina police command have arrested two suspects over the kidnap and death of a 12-year old boy in Dankama Town, kaita local government area.
The suspects were arrested on 13, January, 2025.
The Command’s spokesman, DSP Abubakar Aliyu made the revelation in katsina at a press conference he addressed on behalf of the state police commissioner, Aliyu Musa.
The press conference was called to highlight the Command’s recent achievements while tackling crimes in the state.
The spokesman gave details surrounding the boy’s kidnap and death thus “On January 13th, 2025, we succeeded in arresting two suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old boy in Dankama town of Kaita LGA, Katsina.
“The victim, one Salihu Sadi, m, was kidnapped on 11th January, 2025, at about 2000hrs while on an errand to a nearby Pharmacy for his mother.
“The kidnappers later on the same day at about 2100hrs,(9 p.m) contacted the family via phone call, demanding a ransom of N25 million.
“Despite efforts from the family to negotiate, the kidnappers refused to release the boy and eventually killed him. His lifeless body was later abandoned and found at the outskirt of Dankama town.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, detailed the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) for a thorough investigation.
“During investigation, the operatives successfully identified and apprehended two suspects, (1) Muttaka Garba alias Auta, m, age 24, and (2) Yusuf Usman alias Kwalwa, m, age 20, who confessed to the commission of the crime.
“The command has recovered the phone used to make the ransom demand as part of exhibits in the ongoing investigation.
“The suspects will be charged to court for prosecution as soon as the investigations are concluded.”
The spokesman also highlighted other recent achievements thus “On December 31st, 2024, at about 1300 hrs, (1 p.m) the command succeeded in arresting one Aliyu Isah, m, age 24, Katsina, Katsina State, in possession of two (2) pieces of 100-dollar counterfeit currency, leading to the uncovering of a syndicate of notorious suspected fraudsters that specialized in circulating counterfeit notes.
“The suspect was arrested while attempting to swap the fake foreign currencies into naira at the total sum of three hundred thousand naira (₦300,000) at a bureau de change operated by one Isma’il Dahiru, m, a POS operator who became suspicious and reported the matter to Rimi divisional police headquarters. Swiftly, detectives swung into action and succeeded in arresting the suspect.
“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to obtaining the counterfeit notes from one Aliyu Sani, m, of Jibia LGA, Katsina State, who was subsequently traced and arrested. Upon search, thirty (30) pieces of suspected counterfeit currency of $100 were found.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of (1) Abubakar Sani, m, (2) Alh Ummaru, m, and (3) Haruna Ibrahim, m, all of Sabon Garin Alhaji Yahuza village via Batagarawa LGA, Katsina State, and the recovery of nine hundred and ninety (990) pieces of suspected counterfeit hundred dollar denominations.
“Investigation is ongoing.
“On January 11th, 2025, at about 2200 hrs,(10 p.m) a suspected thief was arrested by the convoy of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, while visiting an injured police officer at the Katsina Teaching Hospital, Katsina State.
“The suspect, one Abdullahi Ali, m, aged 51, of Liyafa quarters via Lay-out Katsina, Katsina State, was arrested for vandalizing three (3) motor vehicles in an attempt to gain access to the vehicles. He succeeded in using a master key to criminally open one of the vehicles, belonging to one Hon Zaharaddeeni Usman, m, a member representing Kurfi LGA, Katsina State, removing a substantial amount of money and four (4) face caps. The stolen funds, totaling six hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦650,000.00) and four (4) face caps, were recovered from the suspect.
“The Governor’s convoy was on its way out of the hospital after visiting the injured police officer, who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital, when they stumbled upon the suspect attempting to flee the scene. The quick-thinking security personnel attached to the Governor’s convoy promptly apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the command for further necessary action.
“The suspect will soon be charged to court accordingly upon the conclusion of the investigation.
“On December 30th, 2024, at about 1400 hrs (2p.m), the command succeeded in arresting one Isma’il Isah, a 23-year-old member of a vigilante group in Kaduna, in possession of fifteen (15) AK-47 rifle magazines concealed in a bag.
“The suspect was arrested by operatives attached to the Funtua Area Command while on routine patrol along the Zaria to Funtua highway.
During the investigation, the suspect confessed to being on his way to Shuwaki village of Bakori LGA, Katsina, where he intended to sell the magazines to one Mannir, m, of the same address, at the rate of nine hundred thousand naira (900,000.00).
“He further confessed to having illegally obtained the rifle magazines during joint operations with security agencies in Kaduna State in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry.
“The Command is working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s possession of the rifle magazines and his intended sale to a blacksmith.
“On January 10th, 2025, at about 1100 hrs, the command succeeded in bursting a 4-man syndicate of suspected notorious fraudsters who specialized in swapping SIM cards of unsuspecting members of the public to fraudulently use sophisticated tactics to withdraw money from their victims bank accounts.
“The command, acting on credible intelligence, launched an operation to track down the syndicate. After a thorough investigation, four suspects were arrested and confessed to the commission of the offense:
Muhammad Murtala, alias Bomboy, age 20, of Rahamawa quarters; Muhammad Umar, alias Dogon Baba, m, age 33, of Sabuwar Unguwa quarters;
Muhammad Quraish, age 29, of Sabuwar Kasuwa quarters; and Emmanuel Ogunwoye, alias OG, m, age 25, a bank staff member, all of Katsina State.
“Also thirty-two (32) SIM cards, mobile phones, and documents containing the personal details of their targeted victims were recovered in their possession as exhibits. Investigation is ongoing.
“In a decisive blow against crime, in the first week of January, 2025, the command successfully raided black spots across Katsina LGA and four areas of Funtua LGA, resulting in the arrest of fourteen (14) suspects;
Salim Umar, m, age 21,
Abubakar Aliyu Badamasi, m, age 19,
Abdulrahman Moh’d, m, age 17,
Anas Ya’u, m, age 28,
Hassan Musa, m, age 23,
Abubakar Hussaini, m, age 17,
Hassan Isma’il, m, age 17, and
Masa’udu Iliyasu, m, age 28,
Umar Garba
Shamsuddeen Aliyu
Kamala Muntari
Abdulmalik Adamu
Abdulrahman Abdullahi
Saifullahi Abdullahi
in connection with various criminal activities such as illicit drug peddling, armed robbery, thuggery, theft, and vandalization.
“The raid was carried out following the receipt of a series of complaints on the activities of the miscreants by the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command. Concerned about the rising level of criminality in the area, the CP directed the deployment of a team of police operatives attached to the command’s surveillance unit to raid the black spots and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The raid targeted notorious black spots in the Unguwar Dahiru, Unguwar Mata, BCG, and Makera quarters of the Funtua LGA, known for harboring criminal elements, and was aimed at disrupting the activities of these miscreants and enhancing security in the affected areas.
“During the investigation, suspects confessed to the commission of the offense, as a cache of dangerous weapons, including knives and cutlasses, and a large quantity of illicit drugs, including Indian hemp and tramadol, were recovered in their possession. They further mentioned other members of the syndicate now at large as efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”
