Police Arrest Two For Kidnap, Murder Of 10-Year-Old In Niger State

…Nab Motorcycle Theft Syndicate

The Niger State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with the abduction and gruesome murder of a 10-year-old boy in Mariga Local Government Area.

The police also apprehended three suspected motorcycle thieves in Kontagora.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the case of the murdered boy began on July 24, 2025, when young Yaseer Mustapha of Kwana-Mariga was kidnapped.

According to him, the victim’s guardian, who was on the farm at the time of the abduction, later received a call from the kidnappers demanding ₦3.5m ransom. After negotiations, the guardian managed to raise ₦100,000, which was paid into an account provided by the abductors.

“A month later, the guardian was asked to pay an additional ₦10,000 to one Abdulmajid Dan-Azumi, without hearing further from the hoodlums,” SP Abiodun explained.

He said the guardian eventually reported the matter to the police in September. The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), which trailed and arrested Abdulmajid Dan-Azumi (32) of Kwana.
His confession led to the arrest of his accomplice, Abdulnafiu Usman (18), of the same community.

“The suspects confessed to the crime, and unfortunately, they killed the boy and buried him in an uncompleted building within the neighbourhood. The operatives were led to the scene, where the decomposed body was recovered and later released to the family for burial,” the statement read.

Abiodun confirmed that the two suspects have been charged in court for prosecution.

In a separate operation, police in Kontagora intercepted and arrested three suspects involved in the theft and dismantling of a Bajaj motorcycle.

On September 23, 2025, a patrol team from ‘B’ Division, Kontagora, flagged down two suspects along Kontagora–Yauri Road near Mararaba Junction. They attempted to flee but were pursued and arrested.

“A spot search on them led to the recovery of dismantled parts of a Bajaj motorcycle concealed in a sack,” Abiodun stated.

The suspects were identified as Jibril Musa (24) of Bayan-Waya, Kontagora, and Ahmed Tiamiyu of New-Market, Kontagora.

During interrogation, they confessed to stealing the motorcycle and named an accomplice, Elijah Ochoba (20), who helped dismantle it.

“All three suspects have been arrested and remain in custody under investigation,” the statement confirmed.