A 22-year-old man has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for allegedly conspiring with two others to kidnap his own grandfather and collect a ₦3 million ransom in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of the state.
Police said the suspect, Sani Dikko (22), was arrested alongside Kabir Sani (22) and Salisu Bello (22) during an intelligence-led operation by the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) along Marabar Shema Village on September 12.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, preliminary investigation showed that Sani Dikko allegedly served as an informant and confessed to conspiring with the other suspects to abduct his grandfather, Alhaji Lawal, about three weeks earlier.
The elderly victim reportedly spent 16 days in captivity before regaining freedom after a ransom of ₦3 million was paid.
In a separate operation, the command said it rescued two kidnapped women following a gun battle with suspected bandits in Sha’iskawa Fulani Village, Kankia LGA.
The victims, 45-year-old Assubi Rabe and 27-year-old Rabi Isyaku, were rescued unharmed after the attackers fled into the bush during the exchange of fire.
Commissioner of Police Ali Umar Fage commended the operatives for their professionalism and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to support the fight against kidnapping and banditry across Katsina State.
