Police in Kebbi State have arrested a 25-year-old woman, Maryam Muhammad, for allegedly kidnapping her friend’s four-year-old son and demanding N5 million ransom. The boy, identified as Abdulmumini Surajo, was declared missing on November 26.
According to Punch News on Tuesday 2 December, 2025, security analyst Zagazola Makama said the boy’s father received a call from an unknown female voice shortly after his son disappeared. The caller reportedly demanded N5 million for the child’s release. Police detectives launched a search and were able to trace the phone number used during the call.
Makama explained that investigators later identified the caller as Maryam Muhammad, a married woman who lives in the same area as the victim’s family. She was arrested and is said to have confessed to the crime. The boy was rescued unharmed on November 29 around 6:08 p.m. in Mahuta, Fakai Local Government Area, where he was allegedly kept by the suspect.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kebbi State, Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident. He stated that the suspect had a misunderstanding with the child’s mother and decided to retaliate by abducting the boy. He added that she is currently in police custody while investigations continue.
The arrest comes at a time when the state is still dealing with several kidnapping incidents, including the recent abduction of female students in the Maga area.
The police assured that further investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved in the crime.