Police arrest former Katsina Governor’s aide over ‘kidnap’

A former aide to the governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria has been arrested over allegations that he led a kidnapping gang involved in the abduction of an eight-year-old boy and the collection of a ₦17 million ransom.

Police identified the suspect as Nura Aliyu, the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda on Community Development Programme, alongside five other suspected members of the gang in Katsina city, while a seventh suspect remains at large.

The schoolboy was abducted on May 13, 2026 at about 6pm while returning from an Islamic school.

The statement explained that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦50 million from the boy’s family before negotiations reportedly reduced the amount to ₦17 million, which was eventually paid to secure the child’s release.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) swung into action,” the statement said.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives tracked and arrested six members of the syndicate on 23 May 2026.”

The suspects named by police include Nura Aliyu, 39, described as the alleged mastermind and a neighbour of the victim’s family; Abubakar Aminu, 37; Ibrahim Muhammad, 51; Iliyasu Sani, 51; Abubakar Muhammad, 27; and Abdullahi Isma’il, 30.

Police said officers recovered ₦7.5 million in cash, a Peugeot 307 car and a motorcycle from the gang’s hideout.

According to the statement, the suspects confessed during interrogation and identified another accomplice, known only as “Abdul”, who is still being sought by authorities.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has distanced itself from Aliyu.

Although several sources claimed he resigned from his government position to contest for a seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly representing Batsari Constituency, the state government insisted he had been dismissed over allegations of corruption.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Bala Zango, said Aliyu was removed from office after allegedly diverting empowerment materials intended for communities in Batsari Local Government Area, a region still recovering from years of armed bandit attacks.