The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of a 14-year-old boy and the arrest of two suspected kidnappers during a joint security operation in Ka’oje, Bagudo Local Government Area.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, the incident began on October 18 when a gang of five armed men invaded the home of Alhaji Buda Sambo, abducting his son, Aliyu Alhaji Buda, and whisking him away to an unknown location.
Acting on intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer of Ka’oje mobilized a combined team of police operatives and local vigilantes. The team pursued the kidnappers into Sada forest, where they engaged in a fierce gun battle. Outgunned, the criminals fled deeper into the forest with suspected injuries.
Two suspects—Aliyu Alhaji Shehu (alias Altine, 25) and Abubakar Umar (alias Bube), both from Orda village in Bagudo LGA—were arrested. A locally made revolver pistol and live ammunition were recovered from one of their residences.
The kidnapped boy was rescued unharmed, given medical attention, and reunited with his family. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects and their fleeing accomplices—identified as Dogo, Magaji, Bande, and Janyo—were also linked to the abduction of a 70-year-old man, Alhaji Alti, on October 28.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, commended the swift response of the Ka’oje police team and urged continued collaboration with local vigilantes to combat kidnapping and violent crimes. He directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Birnin Kebbi for further investigation and the pursuit of the remaining suspects.
The police appealed to residents to remain calm, vigilant, and proactive in sharing credible information with security agencies to aid ongoing operations.
