On February 8, 2026, suspected kidnappers were arrested at the Specialist Hospital in Auchi, Edo State, after they brought a sick child for treatment — only to be recognized by the doctor they had previously kidnapped. The suspects, Idris Abubakar and Sani Abubakar, were identified by Dr. Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, who survived their earlier abduction.
This shocking case began on January 2, 2026, when Dr. Babatunde and his younger brother, Tahir Abu, a recent medical graduate, were abducted while returning home.
While Dr. Babatunde was released after a reported ₦50 million ransom, Tahir was tragically killed in captivity. The Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrests and revealed that another suspect, Saminu Kawujie, was detained earlier in a nearby forest.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions online. Some say it’s justice finally catching up with criminals, while others express frustration over the country’s weak justice system.
