The Kaduna State Police Command has successfully rescued a six-year-old boy, Samaila Haruna, and arrested two suspects following a swift intelligence-led operation in the Kunkumi area of Makarfi Local Government Area.
The crisis began on the morning of 8th November 2026 at approximately 06:00 hours. The boy’s father, 30-year-old Haruna Bala, returned to his home in Kunkumi to find his young son missing. Unknown individuals had breached the residence in his absence and abducted the child.
Shortly after, the kidnappers initiated contact, demanding a ransom of ₦300,000 for Samaila’s safe return. Terrified for his son’s life, the father bargained with the criminals and managed to pay ₦30,000.
Rather than relying purely on the compliance of the abductors, police operatives launched an aggressive, data-driven operation. By tracing the digital footprint of the phone used to issue the ransom demands, tactical teams localized the targets to a commercial shop right within Kunkumi. Operatives stormed the location, finding the six-year-old boy held captive inside.
The raid resulted in the immediate arrest of two key suspects: Usman Ahmed, 22, an indigene of Yarkasuwa Zoo Road in Kano State, and Abdullahi Yakubu, 25, a resident of Kunkumi, Makarfi Local Government Area.
During the apprehension, police teams recovered the mobile phone used in the ransom negotiations as concrete exhibit material. Little Samaila was safely rescued without injury and has since been joyfully reunited with his family.
A third suspect, identified as Jamesy from the Kabuga area of Kano State, managed to evade arrest and remains at large. Police authorities have intensified manhunt operations across state lines to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspect.
In a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu, psc, mni, highly commended the operatives for their tactical precision and prompt rescue.
CP Rabiu issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating in the state, advising them to desist immediately while reassuring Kaduna residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
The case remains under active investigation.
