- As police in Kano police arrests man who kidnapped neighbour’s 2-year-old and demanded N2m ransom
After their 14-year-old elder brother, Victor, was shot dead by terrorists who abducted them and their mum from their home, the three remaining children of Her Worship, Janet Galadima, a Customary Court Judge in Kaduna State have been released.
They spent 15 torturous days in captivity.
Although the Police have not issued any statement on the development, Chairman of the Kaduna State Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barr. Godwin Ochai said the children were released on Tuesday.
He thanked God and everyone who stood by the family.
ASP Mansir Hassan, the PPRO of the Kaduna Police Command had earlier confirmed the killing of 14-year-old Victor by the terrorists.
The terrorists had also, released the judge after killing her son, but kept the remaining children in captivity.
It was, however, not clear how the children were finally released, as family members kept mum.
The abductors, numbering up to 15, invaded the home of the judge at night when her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.
The bandits were said to have demanded N300 million ransom for their release and threatened to start killing their victims one after the other if payment was delayed.
In the meantime, operatives of the Kano State Police Command have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Zakariyya Muhammad who abducted his neighbour’s two-year-old daughter and demanded N2m ransom for her release.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, said that the toddler was rescued 16 hours after she was kidnapped at Sabuwar Gandu Kwarin Barka Quarters.
According to the PPRO, the suspect was arrested on Friday, July 5, following a report made by the victim’s father.
“On 04/07/2024 at about 4pm, 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 a ransom of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000:00) for her release,” the statement read.
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba raised a team of Anti-kidnapping Squad led by SP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal and directed that the victim be rescued within 24 hours, and to ensure the arrest of the suspect.
“Consequently, the squad swung into action. Sustained efforts, coupled with intelligence-led technical operations, 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 8am, i.e. 16 hours after the kidnap incident.
“The suspect who happens to be a neighbour to the victim confessed to having singlehandedly committed the offence and led the detectives to where she was kept hostage.
“The victim was rescued unhurt in an isolated area in their neighborhood and was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano where she was examined, found healthy, and discharged.
“The Commissioner of Police assures the public that this despicable act will not be tolerated and the Command will continue to leverage all its available assets to forestall all criminal activities and bring the perpetrators to justice/
“The Commissioner of Police while appreciating the law-abiding people of the State, urges the community to remain vigilant and cooperate with the Police in preventing and reporting criminal activities to help create a safer environment for all.
“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.”
