Security guard suspected of kidnapping twins in Minna

The police have confirmed that a security guard is suspected of kidnapping a set of six-year-old twins in Minna, Niger State.

The boys, Umar and Anas, were said to have been taken on Sunday afternoon from their home in the Brighter area of Minna, the state capital.

Their father, a businessman named Danjuma, became worried when he could not find the children. He later discovered that the security guard, Sani Abdulrahman, was also missing.

Mr Abdulrahman had told some people in the house that he was taking the boys out on a motorcycle to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir while their father was away.

But when the children did not return home after several hours, the family began to search for them. They visited hospitals across the city, fearing the boys might have had an accident.

The search took a troubling turn when the family received information that kidnappers were holding the children. Mr Danjuma said he later got a phone call from people claiming to be the kidnappers.

They said they were in the Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area and demanded a ransom for the boys' release. He then appealed to the state government, security agencies, and everyone to help bring his sons back safely.

“I am appealing to the government and security agencies to help rescue my children. We are also calling on Nigerians to pray for their safe return,” he said.

Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the incident. He said preliminary investigations showed that the security guard took the boys under the guise of taking them for Salah celebrations.

“The security man, Sani, pretended that he was taking the children out for Salah celebrations in town, but since then, they have not returned. Investigation has commenced, while efforts are ongoing to locate the children,” he said.

The police spokesperson added that they are working hard to track down the suspect and rescue the children unharmed.

This incident is part of a worrying trend of kidnappings in Niger State, where security agencies are still fighting against kidnapping and banditry, especially in areas near forests.