KANO POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED THUG OVER KIDNAP OF NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected thug, Abubakar Isma’il, popularly known as Sankolo, over the alleged kidnapping of a nine-year-old boy, Ubaidu Sammani, in the Rimin Kebbe area of the state.

The command disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by its Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa.

Kiyawa said the 22-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Zango Police Division following intelligence gathered after the arrest of another suspected thug, Umar Usman, also known as Ta’ambo, on November 5.

Ta’ambo, 25, was arrested over alleged involvement in thuggery, mobile phone robberies and attacks on security personnel in Rimin Kebbe and neighbouring communities.

The police described Sankolo as an alleged ringleader of thuggery-related activities in the area and a principal suspect in the kidnapping of Ubaidu, whose alleged accomplices had already been charged to court.

“The victim, Ubaidu, is the son of Alhaji Sammani, a resident of Rimin Kebbe. He was allegedly kidnapped on July 3, 2026,” the statement said.

According to the police, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested Sankolo at about 9:30pm on Friday, November 6, at Rimin Kebbe Quarters during an operation conducted under the command’s ‘Operation Kukan Kura’ initiative.

“Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect was allegedly involved in several cases of thuggery and mobile phone robbery in Rimin Kebbe and neighbouring communities,” the statement added.

The police further alleged that the suspect coordinated attacks, intimidated residents and participated in the theft of mobile phones and other valuables.

Kiyawa said the suspect had confessed to several thuggery-related activities during preliminary investigations.

He added that residents and community leaders described the arrest as a breakthrough and expressed hope that it would help curb criminal activities in the area.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, commended officers of the Zango Division for their professionalism and urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies.

The command said Sankolo remained in custody as investigations continued, while efforts were being intensified to arrest other members of the gang and recover stolen property and weapons allegedly used in the crimes.

It added that the suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.