Daud Olatunji
The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered an alleged plot in which the biological mother of a two-year-old boy, identified as Rito Jesse Davou, reportedly conspired with others to fake his abduction and demand ransom from the family.
The police said the investigation led to the arrest of 34-year-old Nansik Wuyep Sule, who was allegedly involved in the staged kidnapping, while another suspect, Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was detained for allegedly making ransom calls to the child’s grandmother.
According to the police, the ransom demand initially stood at N7m before it was allegedly increased to N15m as the suspects sought to extract more money from the family.
The police Intelligence Response Team subsequently traced the child to Sule’s residence, where he was found and rescued.
The development, according to the police, followed an investigation into the reported abduction, which exposed what investigators described as a fabricated kidnapping arrangement involving the child’s mother, Catherine Davou.
The police said the boy was subsequently taken for medical attention before being reunited with his biological father.
The Force said the arrests formed part of its ongoing operations targeting kidnapping and armed robbery, with investigators working to establish the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and identify other persons who may have been involved.
In a separate investigation, police operatives also arrested Idris Mohammed and Mohammed Bello Adams over the alleged kidnapping of a commercial driver, Idris Zakari Baba.
According to the police, Baba was allegedly lured under the guise of being offered transportation work before he was intercepted and held in a bush.
The suspects allegedly demanded and collected N3m ransom for his release.
The police said further investigation led operatives to Bauchi State, where Baba’s 2012 Toyota Corolla was reportedly traced to Mohammed, who was allegedly attempting to sell the vehicle.
Investigators also linked the suspects to the alleged abduction of Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar.
The police said the kidnappers reportedly obtained N10.5m in ransom from that incident.
The Force said investigations were continuing to determine whether the suspects were members of a larger criminal network and to establish the identities and roles of other persons allegedly connected with the offences.
The police reiterated that all suspects would be subjected to due process, while the investigations would be concluded and the cases taken forward in accordance with the law.
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