Woman Arrested for Kidnapping Her Niece in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police have arrested a 26-year-old woman named Saadiya Sahabi. She is accused of kidnapping her three-year-old niece and asking for a N10 million ransom for the child's return.

The police shared this information in a statement from their Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, released on Friday.

Saadiya, who is the younger sister of the girl’s father, was arrested on November 10 in Bela District, Bungudu Local Government Area. The kidnapped child, Nabila Abdulganiyu, was safely rescued.

The victim’s father, Abdulganiyu Sahabi, reported the kidnapping to detectives in the State Intelligence Department on October 30, just two days after Nabila was taken.

According to the police, the father received a call from an unknown number on October 29. The caller claimed to have his daughter and demanded N10 million for her release.

After the report, the Commissioner of Police, A.M. Bello, ordered the State Intelligence Department to start an investigation and ensure the child was rescued safely.

The statement said, “After days of intelligence gathering, technical analysis, and working with partners, the operatives arrested the suspect on November 10, 2026, at Bela District, Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The victim was also rescued safely.”

The police confirmed that the suspect is the victim’s aunt. She and the child’s father have the same father but different mothers.

It was also noted that “during questioning, the suspect admitted to her role in the crime.”

The police said they are still investigating to find out more details about the kidnapping and to identify anyone else involved.

After Nabila was rescued, the police stated, “The child was taken for a medical check-up and, after evaluation, was reunited with her parents on November 12, 2026.”

The Commissioner of Police praised the State Intelligence Department for their efforts, highlighting their “professionalism, dedication, and effective use of intelligence-led policing” in saving the child.

He also emphasized the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property, especially for vulnerable people, and ensuring that anyone involved in kidnapping or other crimes faces justice.

The police advised the public to “stay alert, work with security agencies, and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.”