The Borno State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped seven-year-old boy in Maiduguri and arrested five suspects in connection with the crime.
Police spokesperson, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, disclosed in a statement on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that N1.5 million ransom was also recovered from the suspects.
According to the police, the victim’s father reported that the child was abducted on March 23 in the Chad Basin area of Maiduguri by unknown individuals. The kidnappers later contacted the boy’s mother using a hidden phone number, initially demanding N10 million before negotiations reduced the ransom to N8 million.
A payment of N1.5 million was eventually made into a POS account provided by the suspects.
Following digital forensic investigations, detectives traced the account to a POS operator, Musa Mohammed Bashir, who was subsequently arrested. Further operations led to the arrest of four additional suspects identified as Ali Adam (aka Abba), Abubakar Sadiq, Abba Goni Abba, and Mohammed Musa (aka Ale Mamman).
The police confirmed that the victim was rescued unharmed, taken to a hospital for medical checks, and later reunited with his family. The N1.5 million ransom was also successfully recovered.
The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, commended officers for the swift operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime through intelligence-led policing. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects are expected to be charged in court.
