Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A disturbing case of betrayal and child endangerment has emerged in Kebbi State, where police have arrested a 25-year-old woman, Maryam Muhammad, for allegedly abducting her friend’s four-year-old son and demanding a ransom of N5 million.
The incident began on November 26, 2025, when young Abdulmumini Surajo was declared missing. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the child's father later received a call from an unknown female voice demanding N5 million for his release. Police investigators immediately traced the phone line used in the ransom call, which led them to Maryam, a married woman from the same community.
Makama, who shared updates on X, revealed that the suspect confessed to the crime upon arrest. The boy was eventually rescued unharmed on November 29 at about 6:08 p.m. in Mahuta, Fakai Local Government Area, where he had been held.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed that the suspect acted out of retaliation following a misunderstanding with the boy’s mother. “The suspect had a misunderstanding with the mother of the boy and decided to retaliate by kidnapping him. She is currently in our custody, and an investigation is ongoing,” he said.
This incident comes at a time when Kebbi State is facing rising insecurity, with several kidnapping cases recently reported, including the abduction of 25 female students of a school in Maga on November 17—a raid that left two staff members dead. The students have since been released.
The police assured the public that investigations will continue as they work to curb the growing trend of kidnappings across the state.
Stone Reporters observed that this incident highlights an alarming pattern of kidnappings in Kebbi State, ranging from large-scale school raids to personal vendettas. The fact that the abduction was motivated by a personal grudge indicates that security vulnerabilities are not limited to organized criminal groups alone but also extend to interpersonal conflicts escalating into criminal acts. Coupled with recent reports of violent raids in the state, it underscores the urgent need for both preventive community policing and stronger intelligence networks. Moreover, it raises questions about the effectiveness of local security awareness, the role of neighborhood vigilance, and the necessity for swift intervention mechanisms to protect vulnerable children and residents.
Stone Reporters further observed that the successful rescue of Abdulmumini Surajo demonstrates that timely police action and collaboration with intelligence sources can prevent loss of life, but also points to the broader challenge of establishing sustainable safety frameworks for residents in high-risk areas.
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