The Niger State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Mohammed Rabiu, at Barkin-Sale in Minna, the state capital, and apprehended two others for alleged conspiracy and self-kidnapping.
Rabiu, a native of Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area, was arrested following a direct complaint at the Kpakungu Divisional Police Station. He was allegedly part of a gang that invaded Dagwi village, near Beji, in 2023, where they abducted a 10-year-old boy.
Police revealed that the gang collected ₦300,000 ransom, a carton of energy drinks, packets of cigarettes, foodstuffs, and recharge cards before releasing the victim.
According to Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun, Rabiu was apprehended on Saturday, August 2, after the victim’s father spotted and identified him in Barkin-Sale.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and named his accomplices as Mahmuda, Aminu, Ibrahim, Yellow, Muazu, and Lago. Rabiu also admitted to killing a farmer in 2023 and disclosed that their victims were usually taken to Washa Forest, via Beji, where further decisions were made.
In a separate incident, police arrested two suspects for allegedly staging a self-kidnapping scheme. On Monday, August 4, Maje Division received a report from a woman who claimed her 18-year-old son, Moses Amarks, a student of the College of Health, Kwamba Suleja, had been abducted. The supposed kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for his release.
Investigations led to the arrest of Emmanuel Moses, 22, of Gidan-Mangoro, Karshi, Abuja, the last person seen with Amarks. The victim was later traced to Zuba Motor Park, Abuja, and rescued at about 4 a.m. the following day.
Police said Amarks confessed to conspiring with Emmanuel to fake his own kidnap in an attempt to extort money from his mother. The duo reportedly stayed in Karji Village, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State, with the assistance of Amarks’ brother, Jetro, who provided accommodation for six days. When the ransom failed to materialize, Amarks resurfaced from Kaduna but was arrested by the police.
The PPRO confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest Jetro, who remains at large.
