The Kano State Police Command has announced the arrest of a key suspect connected to the 2022 abduction of the Village Head of Garun Babba, Alhaji Abdulmumini Mudi Zakari.
The incident occurred on August 9, 2022, when the village head was kidnapped and robbed of ₦2.75 million, a Tecno Kevo 4 mobile phone, and a wristwatch. A swift response by a combined team from the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Garun Mallam Divisional Police Headquarters led to the rescue of the victim, who was found unharmed. The perpetrators abandoned him while fleeing, and three motorcycles used in the crime were recovered.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 4, 2025, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the arrest of 27-year-old Usman Lawan Baba, also known as “Yellow,” a resident of Dakatsalle in Bebeji Local Government Area.
According to SP Kiyawa, the suspect was apprehended on October 2, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. during a follow-up operation. During interrogation, Baba confessed to his involvement in the kidnapping and revealed he received ₦6,000 as his share of the ransom. He also named several accomplices:
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Bello Kici-Kici of Falgore Village, Doguwa LGA – neutralized by police during a kidnapping operation in Jigawa State; an AK-47 rifle was recovered.
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Mallam Sale of Gezawa LGA – neutralized during an armed robbery in Gezawa, Kano State.
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Ruwa Shehu of Gafan Village, Bebeji LGA – currently serving time in a correctional facility for a related kidnapping offense.
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Additional suspects, including Ibrahim Gwanja, Sule Naye, and an unidentified individual, have been linked to the case and are under investigation.
The suspect remains in custody and will be charged in court upon the completion of the investigation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, praised the efforts of the officers involved and expressed appreciation to the public for their continued support. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime and maintaining public safety across the state.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity via its emergency lines: 08032419754, 08123821575, or 09029292926.
