Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have arrested a former Senior Special Assistant on Community Development Programme to the Katsina State Governor, Nura Aliyu, over his alleged involvement in the abduction of an eight-year-old boy.
Aliyu, 39, was apprehended alongside five other suspects accused of orchestrating the kidnapping, according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu.
Although the statement did not specify whether Aliyu served under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, findings indicated that he previously occupied the position before resigning to contest the Batsari Constituency seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
The police spokesperson stated that the victim was kidnapped on May 13, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m. while returning home from an Islamic school.
He explained that the abductors contacted the victim’s family the following day and initially demanded a ransom of N50 million. However, after negotiations, the family reportedly paid N17 million to secure the child’s release.
According to the command, investigators recovered N7.5 million from the ransom money, alongside a Peugeot 307 vehicle and a Boxer motorcycle, among other exhibits linked to the suspects.
DSP Aliyu further disclosed that the suspects admitted to committing the crime during interrogation and identified one Abdul, who is currently on the run, as an accomplice.
Aliyu, in the statement, said: “Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the command swung into action. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives tracked and arrested six members of the syndicate today, May 23rd, 2026.
“Those arrested are: Nura Aliyu, age 39, identified as the mastermind and a neighbour to the victim’s family; Abubakar Aminu, age 37; Ibrahim Muhammad, age 51; Iliyasu Sani, age 51; Abubakar Muhammad, age 27, and Abdullahi Isma’il, age 30.”
The police spokesperson added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect, while the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Umar Fage, commended the operatives for what he described as a swift and successful operation.
He reiterated the command’s determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
