Officers of the Sokoto State Police Command rescued a 10-year-old boy, Muhammad Sufiyanu, after discovering him concealed inside a sack during an operation in Tangaza Local Government Area. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the abduction, while another suspected kidnapper, Abdullahi Buba, was taken into custody in a separate raid.
Rescue Operation in Tangaza
The boy was rescued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a report by his uncle, Sani Ibrahim of Gidan Madi Town, who filed a missing person report at the Gidan Madi Police Station. Ibrahim told police that the boy disappeared earlier that afternoon and reported him missing at about 8 pm.
Surveillance detectives from the Gidan Madi Police Division immediately launched a search. At about 11 pm, the officers, accompanied by Ibrahim, intercepted two individuals on a motorcycle carrying a concealed sack. When challenged, the suspects fled, abandoning the sack. Police searched it and found Sufiyanu alive and responsive inside.
Medical Treatment and Investigation
The boy was taken to Gidan Madi General Hospital, where he received treatment and was later discharged. According to police, Sufiyanu told investigators that one of the suspects lured him into a room, injected him with a sedative, and forced him into the sack.
One suspect has been arrested and reportedly confessed to the crime. Crime Scene Investigators have visited the location as investigations continue. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmad Rufa’i, spokesperson for the command, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday.
Separate Arrest of Kidnapping Suspect
The command also reported the arrest of Abdullahi Buba, also known as "Osho," by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Buba was arrested during an intelligence-led raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Tudun Doki Village, Gwadabawa LGA, at about 2 pm on August 8. Police allege Buba was a key member of a kidnapping syndicate involved in kidnappings and illegal levies on communities in Gwadabawa, Kware, and Gada LGAs. He is reportedly providing information to help locate other syndicate members at large.
Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the officers involved and urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies. Investigations into both cases are ongoing. As of the time of filing, no separate response from the suspects or their representatives had been publicly reported, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
