The Sokoto State police command has arrested two notorious suspected kidnappers and rescued a 10-year-old boy in a separate operation in the state.

A statement on Wednesday by the command’s spokesman, Ahmad Rufa’i, said the operation followed an intelligence-led raid on Saturday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, raided a criminal hideout in Tudun Doki Village, Gwadabawa Local Government Area, on August 8, 2026, at approximately 1400hrs,” he said. 

He stated that the raid led to the arrest of Abdullahi Buba, alias “Osho.”

Mr Rufa’i said Mr Buba confessed during preliminary interrogation to being a key member of a notorious syndicate responsible for a series of kidnappings and illegal imposition of levies on innocent communities across Gwadabawa, Kware, and Gada Local Government Areas. 

“The suspect is currently providing actionable intelligence to assist the police in tracking and arresting other fleeing gang members, as efforts intensify to completely dismantle the criminal network,” he added.

Mr Rufa’i said in another incident on Tuesday at about 8 p.m, one Sani Ibrahim of Gidan Madi Town, Tangaza LGA, reported at the Gidan Madi Police Station that his 10-year-old nephew, Muhammad Sufiyanu, had been missing since afternoon.

“At about 2300hrs, surveillance detectives from the Gidan Madi Division, accompanied by the complainant, intercepted two suspicious persons on a motorcycle carrying a concealed sack,” he said. 

He said when challenged the suspects fled.

“After a determined pursuit, they abandoned the sack, which upon search was found to contain the kidnapped boy, alive and responsive,” he noted.

He stated that the victim was immediately rushed to Gidan Madi General Hospital, where he was treated and discharged. 

“He later narrated that one of the suspects lured him into a room, administered a sedative via injection, and forced him into the sack. 

“One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident and has confessed to the crime. Crime scene investigators have visited the scene, and investigations are ongoing,” he added.