The Yobe State Police Command has arrested a suspected k!dnapper and successfully rescued a victim named Abdullahi Hassan. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed on Friday, October 18, 2024, that the suspect, Yusuf Ali, abducted the minor in Damaturu and demanded a ransom of N1.5 million from the boy’s family.
Abdulkarim explained that detectives tracked down the suspect in the Kara area of Darazo, Bauchi State, where he was holding the child hostage.
“The Yobe State Police Command has dismantled a k!dnapping syndicate, arresting the primary suspect, 43-year-old Yusuf Ali from 250 Housing Estate, Damaturu,” the statement read.
On October 14, 2024, Mallam Hassan reported his son missing after school on October 13. Despite efforts to locate him, the boy’s whereabouts were unknown until the k!dnapper demanded the ransom via a phone call.
Following an intelligence-led operation, police found the victim in a secure room in Kara, Darazo, and arrested the suspect.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, praised the officers for their success and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime. He also offered safety tips for parents to protect children, such as teaching basic safety protocols, encouraging children to avoid walking alone, staying in well-lit areas, refusing gifts or rides from strangers, and reporting suspicious activities.