The Kano State police officers have arrested a 22-year-old suspect, Zakariyya Muhammad, just 16 hours after he was alleged to have abducted an 18 month old child. The child was reportedly found unharmed due to the swift response of the police.
The Kano State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, publicly announced the arrest in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to Haruna, the suspect Muhammad was apprehended on Thursday, after a report from a concerned citizen alerted the police. The report was made by a resident who claimed that the victim’s father had informed him about the kidnapping incident.
He noted that the suspect demanded N2 million ransoms for her release.
He said, “On 04/07/2024 at about 4 pm, a report was received from a resident of Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters, Kano that he received a phone call from an unknown person, who claimed to have kidnapped his 2½-year-old daughter, Amina and demanded N2 million ransom for her release.”
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba mobilized a team of Anti-kidnapping Squad, led by SP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal, with a directive to rescue the victim within 24 hours and to ensure the arrest of the suspect.
“Consequently, the squad swung into action and with sustained efforts, coupled with intelligence-led technical operations, it led to the arrest of the suspect, Zakariyya Muhammad, ‘m’, aged 22 years old, of Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters, Kano on 05/07/2024 by 8 am, i.e. 16 hours after the kidnap incident.”
Superintendent Haruna further disclosed that during police interrogation, the suspect Muhammad, who resides in close proximity to the victim’s family, admitted to committing the kidnapping and provided crucial information regarding the toddler’s whereabouts. Acting on this intelligence, police detectives were able to swiftly locate and rescue the child, who had been held captive by the suspect.
In his words “Subsequently, the victim was rescued unhurt in an isolated area in their neighbourhood and rushed to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where she was examined, certified healthy, and discharged.”
Kano State Commissioner of Police Dogo Garba, in response to the incident, assured the public that the police force would not tolerate such heinous acts and would utilize all resources at its disposal to prevent future criminal activities.
Acknowledging the cooperation and support of the law-abiding citizens of Kano State, the Commissioner of Police emphasized the crucial role that community vigilance plays in crime prevention and encouraged the public to work hand-in-hand with the police by reporting any suspicious or unlawful activities. He expressed the belief that this collaboration would contribute to creating a more secure and peaceful environment for the people of Kano.
The statement reads “In case of emergencies, Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following mobile phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926, or login to the NPF Rescue Me Application available in the Play Store, or through the following Online Media Platforms:
“Facebook: Kano State Police Command, Twitter: Kano State Police Command (@KanoPoliceNG), Instagram: Kano State Police Command, Tiktok: Kano State Police Command.”
