A man accused of abducting four-year-old Muhammad Haruna in Kano has confessed that he carried out the act in a bid to raise N100,000 to clear his debt.
The suspect, identified as Aminu Tukur, who remains in the custody of the Department of State Services, maintained that he acted alone and was not influenced by anyone.
“I alone did what I did because I needed money to pay my N100,000 debt, although I requested for N15 million ransom, but I told myself that if they didn’t pay I would return the boy home without hurting him,” he said.
Tukur explained that he gained access to the child by visiting his family’s residence in Minjibir Local Government Area under the guise of taking his measurements for new clothes, which he used as an opportunity to abduct him.
“I used my relationship with his father to go to the house to get the boy and I took him to my sister house, convincing her that his mother is sick and has gone to hospital. That was how I kept him for four days with me,” he added.
The child’s father, Haruna Hamza, expressed appreciation to the DSS for rescuing his son four days after the incident.
According to him, “I received my son who was rescued by the DSS on 12th February 2026 after being kidnapped and he is in good health.”
Hamza further disclosed that after reuniting with his wife and child, he was invited by the police on Friday and informed that a woman allegedly connected to the incident had been apprehended.
“I have been with the Police since 1:30 pm till 4 pm and they took my statement and that of the woman they said is also part of the Kidnapping ring,” he said.
Reports indicate that the DSS launched an operation following a formal complaint that Muhammad Haruna had been abducted and taken to an undisclosed location, with a ransom demand of N15 million made for his release.
