The Gombe State police command says it has rescued an eight-year-old abducted boy and detained four suspects in connection with the crime.

Buhari Abdullahi, the command’s spokesman, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Gombe.

Mr Abdullahi said the boy, who left home in the Akko community on Saturday, was rescued by the police 72 hours after he was last seen. 

He said the rescue followed an intelligence-led operation by the police, which led to the first suspect’s arrest and the subsequent arrest of three others.

“On Sunday, at about 11:30 a.m., Alhaji Muhammadu Nabadara reported at the Akko Divisional Police Headquarters that his eight-year-old son left home on Saturday at about 6:30 a.m., to an unknown destination and did not return.

“Detectives immediately commenced investigations with coordinated efforts to trace the missing child.

 “On Monday, the family received a telephone call purportedly revealing the victim’s location. However, upon verification, the information was discovered to be false and misleading,” he said. 

Mr Abdullahi said operatives of the command tracked and arrested the prime suspect (name withheld) on June 30, following intelligence-led operations.

He added that during the investigation, the suspect named three other accomplices, including an 18-year-old lady (name withheld). 

“The three accomplices were arrested, and the victim was found in their custody,” he said, adding that the boy was rescued unharmed and has since been reunited with his family.

According to Mr Abdullahi, the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.

(NAN)