Kano Police Rescue Nine-Year-Old Kidnap Victim, Arrest 10 Suspects in Major Anti-Kidnapping Operation.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Northern Bureau Chief
August 1, 2026.
The Kano State Police Command has successfully rescued a nine-year-old boy, Ubaiyu Muhammad Sammani, who was kidnapped in the Rimin Kebbe area of Kano State, and arrested 10 suspects allegedly connected to the crime.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the child was abducted on July 6, 2026, by kidnappers who demanded a ransom of 30,000 US dollars before they would release him.
- Advertisement -
Kiyawa said that immediately after the incident was reported, detectives from the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad launched a comprehensive investigation, combining intelligence gathering, surveillance, and valuable information provided by members of the public.
The coordinated operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including one woman, believed to have played different roles in the kidnapping.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were involved in hiding the victim, negotiating the ransom demand, and repeatedly relocating the boy to different hideouts in an attempt to evade security operatives.
The police further disclosed that the prime suspect, Abubakar Salihu, popularly known as “Sankolo,” escaped during the operation and is currently on the run.
Authorities have launched a manhunt and urged anyone with useful information regarding his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.
The victim was rescued in the early hours of July 31, 2026, during a carefully planned operation at Karshen Kwata, located within the Rimin Kebbe area of Ungogo Local Government Area.
Following his rescue, the boy was immediately taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, where medical personnel examined him and confirmed that he was in stable condition and receiving appropriate care.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, praised their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to protecting lives and property.
He reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes across Kano State, stressing that criminal elements would continue to face the full weight of the law.
The Police Commissioner also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital in preventing and combating crime.
The successful rescue operation is being seen as another significant achievement in Kano State’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety and dismantle kidnapping networks operating within the state. Investigations are continuing, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing prime suspect remain underway.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 1ST AUGUST, 2026)
