The Niger State Police Command has arrested two men over the kidnap and gruesome killing of a 10-year-old boy in Mariga Local Government Area, and separately apprehended three suspected motorcycle thieves in Kontagora.

In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, signed by Niger State Command Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun, the case began on July 24, 2025, when 10-year-old Yaseer Mustapha of Kwana-Mariga was abducted.

His guardian, who was on the farm at the time, received a call demanding N3.5 million ransom.

?After much negotiation, the guardian was able to raise N100,000, which he paid into an account provided by the abductors. A month later, he was asked to pay an additional N10,000 to one Abdulmajid Dan-Azumi, without any word from the hoodlums afterwards,? Abiodun explained.

The guardian, realising the situation was not improving, reported the matter to the police in September. The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the SCID.

The police trailed and arrested Abdulmajid Dan-Azumi (32) of Kwana, whose 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,? Abiodun said.

He added that both suspects have been charged in court for prosecution.

In a separate operation, police in Kontagora arrested three suspects for stealing and dismantling a Bajaj motorcycle.

On September 23, 2025, a patrol team attached to ?B? Division, Kontagora, intercepted two suspects along Kontagora?Yauri Road near Mararaba Junction.

?The officers flagged down the suspects, who refused to stop, but were chased and eventually 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 the New-Market area, Kontagora. Under interrogation, the duo 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. (The PUNCH)

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