From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
A 14-year-old girl has allegedly confessed to staging her own abduction, along with that of her 4-year-old sister, in what authorities describe as a fake kidnapping scheme.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, the teenager is suspected to be part of a kidnapping syndicate and is said to have demanded a ransom of ₦50 million from her parents to secure their release.
A statement on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said that four months after the parents reported the incident, the teenage girl resurfaced, leading to the arrest of her collaborators and the rescue of the child.
The statement said, “The Katsina State Police Command has successfully cracked a kidnapping syndicate, arresting four members of the syndicate, rescuing a four-year-old kidnap victim and recovering one round of AK47 live ammunition as exhibit.
“The fact of the case is that, on the 20th of February, 2025, the Command received a complaint letter written by one Alhaji Badamasi Bala, of Madaci Yan Nono quarters, Katsina, on the kidnapping of his daughters, aged 14 and 4, respectively.
“A ransom of ₦50 million was demanded by the kidnappers to secure their release.
“Upon receipt of the letter, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, detailed the Command’s anti-kidnapping unit to investigate.
“About four months from the date of the kidnapping, the eldest daughter surfaced. When questioned, she confessed to having conspired with three others to kidnap her four-year-old sister and faked her own kidnapping.
“The remaining three members of the syndicate, aged 25, 19, and 16, respectively, were arrested, and the 4-year-old kidnap victim was rescued unhurt. They all confessed to the commission of the offence.
“During the investigation, one live round of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered from them.
“The Commissioner of Police commends the officers’ efforts and urges the public to continue supporting the crime-fighting efforts of the Command by reporting suspicious activities for prompt and decisive action.”