BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, MARCH 27, 2026 | 07:05 PM
A 7-year-old boy kidnapped in Maiduguri has been rescued unharmed by the Borno State Police Command following a swift operation that led to the arrest of five suspects.
The child was abducted on March 23 in the Chad Basin area, with his family thrown into distress after the kidnappers demanded millions of naira for his release.
Police said the suspects initially demanded N10 million but later reduced it to N8 million after negotiations with the victim’s mother.
A sum of N1.5 million was eventually paid into a POS account provided by the abductors before security operatives swung into action.
Through digital tracking and coordinated operations, detectives traced the transaction, leading to the arrest of a POS operator and four other suspects linked to the crime.
Authorities said the boy was rescued without injuries, taken to hospital for medical checks, and safely reunited with his family.
The police also confirmed the recovery of the N1.5 million ransom paid.
Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid praised the operation, assuring residents of continued effort to tackle kidnapping and other crimes in the state.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely information.