A man has confessed to kidnapping a four-year-old boy in Kano State, Nigeria, stating he did so to raise funds for a personal debt. The suspect, identified as Aminu Tukur, remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to Tukur’s statement, he acted alone in the abduction of Muhammad Haruna. He claimed the motive was to secure N100,000 to settle an outstanding debt, despite subsequently demanding a N15 million ransom from the victim’s family. Tukur detailed his method, explaining he visited the family home in Minjibir Local Government Area under the guise of measuring the child for new clothes, exploiting his relationship with the father. He then took the boy to his sister’s house, falsely claiming the child’s mother was hospitalized. The child was held for four days before the ransom demand was made.
The kidnapping prompted a swift response from security agencies. The DSS launched an operation following a formal complaint and successfully rescued Muhammad Haruna on February 12, 2026. The boy was reported to be in good health upon his recovery.
The victim’s father, Haruna Hamza, expressed profound relief and gratitude to the DSS for his son’s safe return. In a parallel development, Hamza stated that after the reunion, he was questioned by police on Friday. He provided a statement regarding a woman alleged to be connected to the kidnapping, who was reported to have been arrested. Police confirmed taking statements from both Hamza and the detained woman as part of an ongoing investigation.
This incident highlights the persistent security challenge of kidnapping for ransom in parts of Nigeria. While Tukur has admitted sole responsibility and claimed no accomplices, the arrest of the linked woman suggests a broader network may be under scrutiny. Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances of the abduction and the ransom plot.
