22-Year-Old Abducts Grandfather, Collects N3m Ransom In Katsina

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly conspired with two suspected terrorists to abduct his grandfather and collect a N3 million ransom from the family after the victim spent 16 days in captivity.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Police image maker, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu.

He said the operation was among recent successes recorded in Dutsin-Ma and Kankia Local Government Areas as part of efforts to curb kidnapping and banditry and safeguard lives and property across the state.

According to the statement, “on September 12, 2026, at about 8:23 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), while conducting a confidence-building patrol along Marabar Shema Village, acted on credible intelligence and successfully apprehended a three-man kidnapping syndicate.

“The suspects were identified as: Sani Dikko, aged 22, Kabir Sani, aged 22 and Salisu Bello, aged 22.

“During preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offence.

“Specifically, Sani Dikko voluntarily confessed to conspiring with the other suspects to kidnap his grandfather, one Alhaji Lawal, about three weeks ago.

“The victim spent 16 days in captivity before securing his release following the payment of a N3,000,000 ransom.

“The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue to unravel their wider criminal network.

“In another development, on 14th September 2026, at about 12:45 am, a distress call was received at Kankia Division reporting that about eight (8) bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked Sha’iskawa Fulani village, Kankia Local Government Area, and abducted two women.

“Upon receipt of the report, the DPO swiftly mobilized a team of police operatives to the scene.

“The team engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. Due to the superior firepower of the police team, the bandits fled into the surrounding bush, allowing operatives to successfully rescue the victims unhurt.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, commends the gallantry and professionalism of the operatives involved and reiterates the command’s commitment to sustaining the onslaught against criminal elements in the state.

“Members of the public are urged to continue providing timely and credible information to the command for prompt and decisive action”, he said.