By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Rabiu Safiyanu, in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a four-year-old boy, Yunusa Salisu, in Bauchi metropolis.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged on Saturday, 21 March, 2026, by the victim’s father, Salisu Yunusa, a resident of Nasarawa Madina Quarters, who reported that his son had gone missing since March 18.
The father said he received a phone call on Thursday, 19 March, 2026 from an unknown number demanding a ransom of ₦500,000 for the release of his son. In a desperate attempt to secure the boy’s freedom, he paid ₦100,000 but did not hear further from the caller nor see his child, prompting him to alert the Police.
The spokesperson of the Police in the state, SP Nafiu Habib explained that the prime suspect, Rabiu Safiyanu, a 20-year-old friend to the victim’s uncle has been arrested and he reportedly confessed to the crime.
He said the detectives of ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, led by the DPO, arrested the suspect following a report on Saturday, 21 March, 2026, at about 11am by Salisu Yunusa, victim’s father, of Nasarawa Madina Quarters, Bauchi.
The PPRO said that the victim, Yunusa Salisu, went missing on 18th March. The father told Police that the adductor called on 19th March with a private number, demanding N500,000 ransom while he paid N100,000 but did not see the child.
Police said that its investigation led to the arrest of Rabiu Safiyanu, “a 20 years old of the same address, a friend of the complainant’s younger brother with free access to the house. He confessed to taking the victim, strangling him, dumping the body at Warinje Hills, and demanding further ransom.”
Police said that it has recovered the decomposing corpse with marks of strangulation and a rope suspected to have been used in the act. “The Officer in Charge of the Police Clinic certified the victim dead. The body was photographed and subsequently released to relatives and buried on site for public health safety.
“The suspect is in custody. CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case, ensure timely discreet investigation and prosecution. He further charged residents to always observe people around them and report any suspicious activities to Police,” he said.
