Security operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers and rescued three minors from bandits in Kaduna State.The state’s Police Command, in a statement yesterday, confirmed that on August 26, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., a distress report was lodged by a father whose three children: Aslam Umar Lukman, 14, Suleiman Umar Tanko, 12, and Aliyu Umar Tanko, 10, were abducted on August 25 at about 1:45 p.m. The kidnappers had demanded N50 million ransom.

According to the statement issued by the police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, operatives of the command, through strategic intelligence gathering and tactical communication, lured one of the suspects, Richard Philip, identified as the kingpin, out of their hideout and arrested him.

The suspect, Hassan said, confessed during interrogation and revealed that he conspired with Ibrahim Ma’aruf, 18, and Abubakar Sadiq, 15, to kidnap the children and hide them at his residence.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the police swiftly stormed the location, arrested the culprits and rescued all three victims unharmed,” Hassan added. He disclosed that the rescued children had since been safely reunited with their family by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command.

“The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reiterates the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property. He urges parents to be vigilant and assures the public that all forms of criminality will be met with decisive action,” the spokesperson said.