Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered an alleged staged kidnapping involving a two-year-old boy, arresting suspects accused of creating the impression that the child had been abducted and demanding ransom from his family.
The development was disclosed on Friday, August 28, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, who said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team uncovered the scheme during an intelligence-led investigation. The police identified the child as Rito Jesse Davou and said a 34-year-old man, Nansik Wuyep Sule, was arrested in connection with the reported kidnapping.
According to the police account, investigators discovered that Sule allegedly conspired with the child's biological mother, Catherine Davou, to stage the abduction. The alleged arrangement was intended to create the impression that the boy had been taken by kidnappers, while a ransom was demanded from the family.
The initial ransom demand was reportedly N7m. Police said further investigation showed that the child was being kept at Sule's residence, after which the demand was increased to N15m. The changing ransom figure became part of the evidence investigators examined as they sought to establish what had happened to the boy.
Another suspect, identified as Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was also arrested. Police alleged that Butdam made calls to the child's grandmother in connection with the ransom demand. The arrests allowed investigators to locate the child and establish that the reported abduction did not correspond with the circumstances uncovered during the investigation.
The boy was subsequently rescued safely. Police said he received medical attention before being handed over to his biological father. The Force has not publicly disclosed further details about the child's condition or the exact circumstances in which he was recovered.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the suspects have not been convicted of any offence. The police statement did not provide a detailed account of the evidence against each suspect beyond the findings described by investigators. It also did not publicly set out what legal charges, if any, had been filed against those arrested.
The case highlights a particularly troubling dimension of Nigeria's wider kidnapping crisis: the alleged use of a child's disappearance as a means of generating ransom money. Kidnapping for ransom has remained a serious security concern across the country, affecting families, commuters, business owners, religious leaders and other members of the public. A staged abduction, if established in court, would add another layer to that problem by exploiting public fear surrounding genuine kidnappings.
The police said the investigation into the Davou case is continuing. Investigators are expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged conspiracy, determine whether other people were involved and clarify the financial arrangements behind the ransom demands. The Force has not announced a final conclusion in the case.
The same police statement also announced arrests in a separate investigation involving suspected kidnapping and armed robbery. Operatives arrested Idris Mohammed, also known as Yellow, and Mohammed Bello Adams over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of commercial driver Idris Zakari Baba and other related criminal activities.
According to investigators, Baba was allegedly lured under the pretext of conveying Mohammed from Abuja to Zaria. Police said armed men subsequently intercepted the driver, took him into a bush location and held him until a ransom of N3m was paid.
The investigation did not end with the victim's release. Police said Baba's 2012 Toyota Corolla was later traced to Bauchi State, where Mohammed was allegedly attempting to sell the vehicle. The recovery of the car provided investigators with another lead in their effort to establish the alleged activities of the suspects.
Police further said the investigation linked Mohammed and Adams to the reported kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar. A ransom of N10.5m was reportedly paid in that case, according to the Force. The statement did not provide additional details about when the alleged abduction occurred, where the victims were held or the circumstances surrounding their release.
Taken together, the two investigations illustrate the different methods allegedly being used to obtain ransom payments. In the first case, police say investigators uncovered an attempt to manufacture the appearance of a kidnapping involving a child. In the second, they allege that a commercial driver was deliberately lured into a situation in which armed men could abduct him, while his vehicle was later targeted for sale.
The cases also underline the importance of intelligence-led investigations in distinguishing genuine abductions from fabricated reports and in tracing suspects beyond the immediate location of an alleged crime. In the Davou case, investigators said the child was located safely, while in the Baba case, the recovery of the vehicle in Bauchi helped connect the investigation to a wider alleged criminal operation.
The Nigeria Police Force said its investigations are continuing and that officers are working to identify other people who may be connected to the alleged criminal activities. The Force also said it intends to establish the full extent of the suspects' involvement.
For families affected by kidnapping, the developments carry a difficult message. Ransom demands can trigger panic, financial pressure and uncertainty, while false reports can consume valuable investigative resources and potentially divert attention from victims facing genuine danger. At the same time, allegations made during an investigation must be distinguished from facts established through due legal process.
The latest arrests therefore represent an investigative development rather than a final determination of guilt. The suspects will remain entitled to due process as authorities work to complete their inquiries and determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support prosecution. Until a court establishes otherwise, the allegations against them remain allegations.
Neither investigation has been concluded. Further developments are expected as investigators examine ransom communications, movements, financial trails and evidence that could identify additional participants. For now, authorities have confirmed the safe recovery of the two-year-old boy and the arrests made in both investigations, while stressing that inquiries remain ongoing.
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