By Ayox Ojo

Operatives of Nigeria Police Force have arrested a mother identified as Catherine Davou for allegedly plotting with two others to stage kidnapping of her two-year-old child Rito Jesse Davou allegedly for N7 million ransom.

CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer announced this in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the parents had reported the abduction of the two-year-old child to the police.

Iniedu, however, said investigations revealed that Catherine Davou conspired with one 34-year-old Nansik Wuyep Sule to stage the kidnapping and create the impression that the child had been abducted, with an initial ransom demand of ₦7 million.

He added that Further investigation revealed that the child was kept at Sule’s residence, where a subsequent ransom demand of ₦15 million was made.

The Force spokesperson added that another suspect, Luka Emmanuel Butdam, was also arrested for allegedly making calls to the child’s grandmother in connection with the ransom demand.

He added that the child was subsequently located and safely rescued and, after receiving medical attention, handed over to his biological father.

Iniedu added that in a separate investigation, operatives arrested Idris Mohammed a.k.a. Yellow and Mohammed Bello Adams over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a commercial driver, Idris Zakari Baba, and other related criminal activities.

According to him, investigation revealed that the victim was allegedly lured under the pretext of conveying Mohammed from Abuja to Zaria before being intercepted by armed men, taken into the bush and held until a ransom of ₦3 million was paid.

He added that the victim’s vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Corolla, was subsequently traced to Bauchi State and recovered while Mohammed was attempting to sell it.

Iniedu said further investigation also linked the suspects to the reported kidnapping of Pastor David Dahni and his driver, Abdullahi Abubakar, for which a ransom of ₦10.5 million was reportedly paid.

The Nigeria Police Force continues to investigate the cases to identify other persons connected to the criminal activities and establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.