Police nab suspects in fake kidnapping case, rescue two-year-old

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested several suspects in a fake kidnapping involving a two-year-old child. They also found a suspected gang involved in kidnapping and armed robbery.

The police said their Intelligence Response Team carried out the arrests during two separate investigations.

In the first case, officers arrested 34-year-old Nansik Wuyep Sule for the reported kidnapping of two-year-old Rito Jesse Davou.

Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, shared a statement on Friday. The investigation showed that Sule reportedly worked with the child's mother, Catherine Davou, to fake the kidnapping. They wanted to make it seem like the child had been taken away.

Initially, they asked for a ransom of ₦7 million. Later, they raised the demand to ₦15 million.

The police said, “Further investigation revealed that the child was kept at Sule’s residence.”

Another suspect, Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was also arrested. He allegedly made calls to the child's grandmother about the ransom.

The police found the child and safely rescued him. They said he received medical care before being returned to his father.