The Borno State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl in Maiduguri, following a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation by its Crack Squad.
ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement on Thursday that the breakthrough was recorded under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid.
He said the incident occurred on Nov. 4 at about 3:00 p.m. when the minor, a resident of Gomari area, was abducted on her way home from school. The abductors later demanded a ransom of N3 million, which was reportedly paid through cryptocurrency before the child was released on Nov. 7.
Daso said the Commissioner of Police immediately deployed the Command’s Crack Squad to track those behind the abduction. The operation, which involved surveillance and digital tracing, resulted in the arrest of the suspects between Nov. 29 and Dec. 4.
The suspects include Mustapha Mohammed, 20; Ismail Shuaibu, 25; Abdul Mohammed Bulama, 23; Amina Ibrahim, 19; and Lawan Yusuf Hassan, 25.
According to the statement, preliminary investigation revealed that Mustapha Mohammed, an uncle to the victim, masterminded the kidnapping in collaboration with Shuaibu and Bulama. The suspects allegedly intercepted the girl, moved her through different tricycles to conceal their trail, and later changed her into a different outfit to avoid detection.
Police said the child was taken to a hotel along Pompomari Bypass with the assistance of Amina Ibrahim, who allegedly posed as the mother of the child to secure accommodation. The victim was kept for three days until the ransom was paid.
Further investigation traced the ransom transaction to Lawan Yusuf Hassan, an IT technician at Bulumkutu GSM Village, who allegedly facilitated and received the cryptocurrency payment.
The Command said efforts are ongoing to recover the ransom and identify other accomplices.
CP Abdulmajid commended the Crack Squad for its swift response and professionalism, and warned criminal elements to desist from acts of kidnapping or face the full weight of the law.
The Command assured the public that updates on the case would be provided as the investigation progresses.
