Kano Police Arrest Man Linked to Nine-Year-Old's Kidnapping

The Kano State Police have arrested a man, Abubakar Isma’il, known as Sankolo. He is suspected of kidnapping a nine-year-old boy named Ubaidu Sammani in Rimin Kebbe area.

The police shared the news in a statement on Sunday. Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Public Relations Officer, provided the details.

Kiyawa said Sankolo, who is 22 years old, was arrested on Friday. This happened after police gathered information from the arrest of another suspect, Umar Usman, known as Ta’ambo, on November 5.

The PUNCH reported that 25-year-old Ta’ambo was taken into custody on Thursday. He faced charges for thuggery, mobile phone thefts, and attacks on security officials in Rimin Kebbe and nearby areas.

Police described Sankolo as a leader in thuggery in Rimin Kebbe and a key suspect in the kidnapping case. Other suspects linked to the crime have already been taken to court.

Ubaidu is the son of Alhaji Sammani, who lives in Rimin Kebbe. He was allegedly kidnapped on July 3, 2026, according to the police statement.

The police arrested Sankolo around 9:30 PM on Friday, November 6, in Rimin Kebbe Quarters. This was part of an operation called ‘Operation Kukan Kura.’ They acted on reliable information received.

Investigations showed that Sankolo was involved in various thuggery cases and mobile phone thefts in Rimin Kebbe and nearby communities. He is suspected of organizing attacks, intimidating people, and stealing phones and other valuables.

The police said Sankolo admitted to participating in various thuggery activities during initial questioning. Residents and community leaders welcomed his arrest, calling it a significant step towards reducing crime in the area.

Ibrahim Bakori, the state Commissioner of Police, praised the Zango Division officers for their good work. He encouraged residents to keep sharing useful information with the police.

The police said that Sankolo will remain in custody while they investigate further. They are also working to arrest other gang members and recover stolen items and weapons used in the crimes.

Once the investigation is complete, Sankolo will be charged in court.