Police rescue kidnapped 7-year-old boy, arrest five suspects and recover N1.5m ransom in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped 7-year-old boy in Maiduguri and arrested five suspects.

The spokesperson for the command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, March 26, 2026 said the sum of N1.5m was also recovered from the suspects.

According to the PPRO, the victim’s father reported that his child was kidnapped by unknown persons at Chad Basin area of Maiduguri on 23rd March.

The abductors later contacted the victim’s mother through a concealed phone number and demanded N10m ransom which was later negotiated to N8m.

The sum of N1.5m was subsequently paid into a POS account provided by the suspects.

Upon digital forensic analysis, detectives of the command traced and arrested the PoS operator, Musa Mohammed Bashir.

Further investigation led to the arrest of four additional suspects and rescue of the victim.

“The Borno State Police Command under the leadership of CP Naziru Abdulmajid psc has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against violent crimes, with the successful rescue of a kidnapped 7-year-old boy, arrest of five suspects, and recovery of ransom,” the statement read.

“On 24th March, 2026 at about 1530hrs, a report was received at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Maiduguri, from a resident of Chad Basin Area Maiduguri, that his 7 years old son, was kidnapped on 23rd March, 2026 at about 1840hrs by unknown persons.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects contacted the victim’s mother through a concealed GSM number and demanded a ransom of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00), which was later negotiated to Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000.00).

“A sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,500,000.00) was subsequently paid into a POS account provided by the suspects.

“Upon intensive digital forensic analysis, detectives of the Command traced and arrested one Musa Mohammed Bashir, a POS operator, whose account was used to receive the ransom.

“Further coordinated operations led to the arrest of four additional suspects, namely: Ali Adam (aka Abba), 24 years; Abubakar Sadiq, 29 years; Abba Goni Abba, 18 years; and Mohammed Musa (aka Ale Mamman), 18 years, all residents of Chad Basin and Bulabulin Alajiri areas of Maiduguri.

Consequently, the victim was rescued unhurt and taken to Hospital for medical evaluation before being safely reunited with his family.

“The sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,500,000.00) was also recovered.

“The case is still under investigation and the suspect will be charged to court.

“The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, commended the detectives for the swift breakthrough and reassured members if the public of the Command’s sustained commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged the public to continue providing timely and actionable information to security agencies.

“The Command calls on members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station. Emergency Contacts: 0806 807 5581, 0802 347 3293.”