On October 8, 2026, the [Katsina State Police Command](https://www.npf.gov.ng) announced the safe recovery of a three‑year‑old child and the apprehension of four suspects believed to be part of a network that abducts children younger than five for ransom, following investigations that started on October 5.
**Key facts**
- The first case was reported on September 30 by Abubakar Ahmed Rufa’i, whose four‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old son, Muhammed Abubakar, was taken.
- Kidnappers initially demanded N5 million, later reducing the request to N20,000 as “feeding money” before releasing the child.
- Payments were made through point‑of‑sale (POS) accounts, leading to the arrest of two operators, Abubakar Muntari and Aminu Idris, who allegedly collected the cash.
- A second report arrived on October 8 from Abdulrahaman Bello, whose three‑year‑old son, Yakubu Abdulrahman, had vanished and whose father received ransom calls demanding an additional N100,000.
- Technical analysis linked the two incidents, prompting a night‑time operation that captured 16‑year‑old Abdulhakim Mustapha at a [POS terminal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale) while he attempted to receive the payment.
- Mustapha confessed, disclosed the location of the hideout and facilitated the rescue of the three‑year‑old victim unharmed.
- Police also detained 20‑year‑old Aminu Musa, accused of guarding the child and handling ransom negotiations, and recovered a SIM card used in the negotiations.
**What did the police uncover?**
The investigation revealed that the same payment channels were used in both kidnappings, indicating coordination between the perpetrators. The arrested POS operators identified Mustapha as the individual who collected the feeding money for the first abduction, establishing a direct link between the two cases.
**Who are the remaining suspects?**
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, two individuals known only as Ibrahim and Mohammed (also referred to as Malam) remain at large. Authorities continue to pursue them and any additional accomplices.
**How did the operation unfold?**
After tracing the ransom transfers, officers conducted a targeted raid on the night of October 8. The operation resulted in the seizure of the POS devices, the arrest of the four suspects, and the recovery of the child without injury. Aliyu emphasized that the swift response was possible due to the cooperation of the public and the effective use of digital payment tracking.
The police urged parents to report any suspicious activity promptly and warned that kidnappers may continue to exploit electronic payment systems for ransom demands.