Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police have arrested a 22-year-old man, Sani Dikko, over the alleged kidnapping of his grandfather, Alhaji Lawal, in Katsina State, while two women abducted by bandits have also been rescued in a separate operation.
Dikko was arrested alongside two other 22-year-olds, Kabir Sani and Salisu Bello, by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit during a patrol around Marabar Shema Village in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ali Fage.
The suspects were arrested on September 12, 2026, at about 8:23pm after operatives acted on credible intelligence during a confidence-building patrol.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that Dikko had allegedly conspired with the other suspects to abduct his grandfather about three weeks earlier.
According to the statement, the victim spent 16 days in captivity before his release after a ₦3 million ransom was paid.
“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 her release following the payment of a ₦3,000,000 ransom.”
The three suspects remain in custody as police continue investigating the alleged kidnapping and possible links to a wider criminal network.
In a separate operation, police rescued two women abducted during a bandit attack on Sha’iskawa Fulani Village in Kankia Local Government Area.
The victims, 45-year-old Assubi Rabe and 27-year-old Rabi Isyaku, were abducted at about 12:45am on September 14 by about eight armed bandits, according to the police.
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Kankia mobilised operatives to the area. The team engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the surrounding bush.
“Due to the superior firepower of the police team, the bandits fled into the surrounding bush, allowing operatives to successfully rescue both kidnapped victims unhurt,” the statement said.
Fage commended the operatives for their gallantry and professionalism and reaffirmed the police commitment to tackling kidnapping and banditry across Katsina State. He also urged residents to provide timely and credible information to assist security operations.
