DSS foils N15m kidnap plot, rescues five-year-old in Kano village raid

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano have rescued a five-year-old boy and arrested a suspected kidnapper in what officials described as a swift, intelligence-led operation that thwarted a ₦15 million ransom demand.

The child, Muhammad Haruna, was recovered on Wednesday evening during a targeted raid in Danzaki Village, Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State.

Security sources said the operation was launched after the agency received a formal complaint that the boy had been abducted and taken to an unknown location. The kidnappers were said to have demanded ₦15 million from the family.

An operational report indicated that DSS tactical teams tracked the suspects and executed a coordinated rescue mission at about 7:40 p.m. on February 12, 2026, leading to the safe recovery of the child without harm.

During the operation, a 20-year-old suspect, Aminu Mukhtar, was apprehended while allegedly negotiating ransom payment with the victim’s father over the phone.

Preliminary interrogation reportedly linked the suspect directly to the abduction, with officials saying he admitted to carrying out the act to extort money from the family.

The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue. Meanwhile, the rescued child has been placed under protective care as authorities complete necessary procedures.