The Intelligence Response Team arrested four suspects across two investigations involving an alleged fake abduction and the kidnapping of a commercial driver

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered an alleged staged kidnapping involving two-year-old Rito Jesse Davou and separately arrested suspects linked to a kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate in two intelligence-led investigations conducted by its Intelligence Response Team.

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The police said 34-year-old Nansik Wuyep Sule was arrested in connection with Rito’s reported abduction, while Luka Emmanuel Butdam was also detained over alleged involvement in ransom communications with the child’s grandmother.

According to the Force, investigators discovered that Sule allegedly conspired with Rito’s biological mother, Catherine Davou, to stage the kidnapping and create the impression that the child had been abducted.

The alleged scheme initially involved a ransom demand of ₦7 million.

Further investigation reportedly showed that Rito was being kept at Sule’s residence, after which the ransom demand was allegedly increased to ₦15 million.

The child was eventually located and safely rescued.

After receiving medical attention, Rito was handed over to his biological father, according to the police.

Butdam was separately arrested for allegedly making calls to the child’s grandmother in connection with the ransom demand.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged involvement of the child’s mother and the motive behind the purported scheme remain subject to investigation.

The police have not disclosed whether Catherine Davou has been arrested, while the suspects’ responses to the allegations were not contained in the account released by the Force.

Separate kidnapping investigation

In another intelligence-led investigation, the IRT arrested Idris Mohammed, also known as Yellow, and Mohammed Bello Adams over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of commercial driver Idris Zakari Baba and other criminal activities.

Investigators alleged that Baba was lured under the pretence of conveying Mohammed from Abuja to Zaria.

According to the police, armed men subsequently intercepted the journey, took Baba into a bush and held him captive until a ransom of ₦3 million was paid.

The victim’s vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Corolla, was later traced to Bauchi State.

Police said the vehicle was recovered while Mohammed was allegedly attempting to sell it.

Further investigation reportedly linked the suspects to the alleged kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar.

The police said a ransom of ₦10.5 million was reportedly paid in connection with that incident.

The two investigations highlight different alleged methods used in kidnapping-related crimes, ranging from a purported staged abduction for ransom to the alleged use of deception to lure a commercial driver into an ambush.

They also demonstrate the financial dimension of such crimes, with the investigations involving reported ransom demands and payments of ₦7 million, ₦15 million, ₦3 million and ₦10.5 million.

The Nigeria Police Force said investigations were continuing to identify other people allegedly connected to the criminal activities and determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.

The police account does not amount to a finding of guilt, and the suspects remain entitled to due process as investigators work to establish the facts and determine whether criminal charges should follow.

For Rito’s family, however, the immediate outcome has been a dramatic rescue, with the two-year-old found alive, treated medically and returned to his father.

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The investigations are expected to continue as police seek to establish whether the separate cases form part of wider criminal networks and identify any additional suspects.