Shock in Katsina as 14-Year-Old Orchestrates ₦50m Ransom Plot, Abducts Own 4-Year-Old Sister

A chilling web of deceit and betrayal has emerged in Katsina, where a 14-year-old girl staged her own abduction and that of her 4-year-old sister to demand a ₦50 million ransom from their unsuspecting father.

The bizarre plot, which stunned both locals and law enforcement, was exposed after the girl resurfaced four months after their reported disappearance on February 20, 2025. The children’s father, Alhaji Badamasi Bala of Madaci Yan Nono Quarters, Katsina, had filed a kidnapping report the same day, triggering a full-scale police investigation.

Detectives from the Katsina State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched a manhunt under the directive of Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Shehu. The case took an unexpected turn when the teenager returned home in June and confessed to being the mastermind behind the ordeal.

Investigations revealed that the teenager colluded with three accomplices—25-year-old Abubakar Mustapha, 19-year-old Yusuf Sani, and a 16-year-old unnamed boy. Together, they kept the younger sister hidden for months while sending threatening letters demanding ransom from their father. Police said the four-year-old victim was later rescued unharmed from a hideout on the outskirts of Katsina.

Authorities recovered one live 7.62mm ammunition round from the suspects, suggesting the group may have been armed or planning to escalate the scheme. All four individuals have reportedly confessed to the crime and are in custody as investigations continue.

The police have condemned the incident as a shocking example of juvenile delinquency and manipulation, urging parents to pay closer attention to the psychological and social wellbeing of their children. CP Bello Shehu commended the officers involved and encouraged the public to report suspicious behaviour without hesitation.

This incident raises serious concerns about the growing trend of youth involvement in organised crimes and highlights the urgent need for stronger family systems, community awareness, and early intervention programs to curb such dangerous behaviours.