Monday, March, 23 2026 - The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Rabiu Safiyanu, for kidnapping and k!lling a four-year-old boy.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Nafiu Habib, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, March 22, 2026 said detectives arrested the suspect following a report of a missing child.

According to the PPRO, one Salisu Yunusa of Nasarawa Madina Quarters on Saturday, March 21, reported that his son, Yunusa Salisu, had gone missing on March 18.

The father further revealed that he received a call from an unidentified number the next day demanding a ransom of N500,000, out of which he paid N100,000, but the child was not released. 

Investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, who is friend of the victim's uncle. 

He confessed to abducting the victim, strangling him, dumping the body at a hill and demanding additional ransom.

Police recovered the decomposing corpse with marks of strangulation and a rope suspected to have been used in the act.  

“The detectives of ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, Bauchi, led by the DPO, arrested a suspect following a report on 21st March at 1100hrs by Salisu Yunusa of Nasarawa Madina Quarters that his 4-year-old son, Yunusa Salisu, went missing on 18th March at about 0930hrs,” the statement read.

"The father disclosed that he received a call on 19th March from a private number demanding N500,000 ransom and paid N100,000 without seeing the child.

"Investigation led to the arrest of Rabiu Safiyanu, a 20yrs old of the same address, a friend of the complainant’s younger brother with free access to the house. 

"He confessed to taking the victim, strangling him, dumping the body at Warinje Hills, and demanding further ransom.

"Police recovered the decomposing corpse with marks of strangulation and a rope suspected to have been used in the act. 

"The Officer in Charge of Police Clinic certified the victim d3ad. The body was photographed and subsequently released to relatives and buried on site for public health safety.

"Suspect is in custody. CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, mni, psc (+) directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to takeover case, ensure timely discreet investigation and prosecution. 

“He further charged residents to always observe people around them and report any suspicious activities to Police.”