Police Arrest Four Over Alleged Kidnap Threat, ₦30m Ransom Demand in Kebbi
By Yusuf Gwandu
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested four suspects over an alleged plot to kidnap a resident after demanding a ransom of ₦30 million.
The suspects, identified as Muhammad Shafiu, 21, Mansur Ibrahim, 21, Aliyu Umar, 25, and Muhammad Suleiman, 23, are being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation through anonymous communication, and issuing kidnap threats.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, the arrests followed a complaint by a resident of Jega, Alhaji Aminu Garba, who reported receiving threatening phone calls demanding ₦30 million or risk being kidnapped.
Police investigations revealed that three of the suspects allegedly procured a new SIM card and repeatedly called the victim. One of them reportedly disguised his voice to sound like a Fulani man in an attempt to instill fear and conceal his identity.
The investigation further indicated that the fourth suspect, said to be a family friend of the victim, allegedly supplied the victim’s phone number and family details, which were used to facilitate the threats.
The Command said its operatives, acting on intelligence, tracked and arrested the suspects at Gumbin Kure and Gamjeji villages in Maiyama Local Government Area, foiling the alleged plot before it could be carried out.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar M. Hadejia, directed that the case be thoroughly investigated and the suspects prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that anyone involved in kidnapping, extortion, or related crimes would face the full weight of the law.
The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious calls or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.
