The Borno State Police Command has arrested five suspects, including a 20-year-old man, for the abduction of an eight-year-old girl in Maiduguri.
The suspects reportedly drugged the child and collected a ransom of ₦3 million via cryptocurrency.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, the arrests followed a discreet, intelligence-driven investigation between November 29 and December 4, 2025.
The suspects include Mustapha Mohammed, the victim’s uncle, Ismail Shuaibu, Abdul Mohammed Bulama, Amina Ibrahim, and Lawan Yusuf Hassan.
Daso explained that the abductors intercepted the child on her way home from school on November 4, moved her through multiple tricycles to hide their trail, and later changed her clothes before taking her to a hotel. She was held for three days until the ransom was paid.
“The case remains under active investigation as efforts continue to recover the ransom and identify other possible accomplices,” Daso said, adding that the Commissioner of Police commended the crack squad for their swift action and reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for kidnapping.
The victim was safely released on November 7, 2025.
