In a shocking incident that has left residents of Katsina State stunned, the police have arrested a 14-year-old girl for allegedly masterminding her own fake abduction as well as the kidnapping of her four-year-old sister, in a calculated scheme to extort N50 million from their father.
The Katsina State Police Command disclosed this disturbing development during a media briefing held at its headquarters on Thursday. Spokesperson for the Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abubakar Sadiq, told journalists that the teenager’s confession led to the unraveling of a kidnapping syndicate and the safe rescue of the younger sibling.
DSP Sadiq explained that the case began on February 20, 2025, when the Command received a formal complaint from one Alhaji Badamasi Bala, a resident of Madaci Yan Nono Quarters in Katsina. Bala had reported that both his daughters—aged 14 and 4—had been kidnapped and that the alleged abductors were demanding a ransom of N50 million for their release.
For nearly four months, the girls remained missing until the older daughter unexpectedly returned. Upon thorough interrogation, she reportedly admitted to having staged her own kidnapping and conspiring with three accomplices to abduct her younger sister as part of a ploy to extort money from their unsuspecting father.
Following her confession, the police swiftly moved into action, apprehending the three other members of the gang. The suspects, aged 25, 19, and 16, were taken into custody. Fortunately, the four-year-old victim was rescued unharmed.
“All suspects have confessed to their involvement in the criminal plot,” DSP Sadiq confirmed. He further noted that during the course of the investigation, officers recovered a live 7.62mm round of AK-47 ammunition from the gang’s possession, which has been taken in as evidence.
Commending the swift and tactical response of the officers involved, the Commissioner of Police for Katsina State, CP Bello Shehu, praised the Command’s commitment to maintaining public safety. He also called on residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting law enforcement by reporting suspicious behavior promptly.
The incident has drawn widespread attention, both for the shocking involvement of a minor and for the reminder it offers about the evolving tactics of criminal elements, even among the youth.