Crime
Police Arrest Man For Abducting, killing Five-Year-Old Boy In Bauchi
By *Funmilayo Olusanya*
The Bauchi State Police command have detained a 25-year-old man for allegedly killing a five-year-old kidnapped child.
The suspect, identified as Anas Auwal, a resident of Tsangaya Village in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State allegedly lured the minor of the same address with candies to his room.
Later, he demanded a N5 million ransom from the youngster’s father before releasing him, but the father of the boy informed Auwal that he lacked the necessary funds.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, stated this in a media statement made available to journalists in the state on Thursday.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said that the suspect hacked the boy to death after he realised that he recognised him.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Sanda, directed that the suspect be charged to court for prosecution.
“The Command has arrested Anas Auwal ‘m’ 25yrs old from Tsangaya village in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State for kidnapping and gruesome murder of five-year-old teenager Abba Yahuza ‘m’ of the same address.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that on the 11th October 2022 at about 2pm, the suspect lured the victim into his room with sweets. He later called the victim’s father by phone and threatened him to bring the sum of five million naira (N5, 000,000.00) as ransom but the father told him that he couldn’t raise the demanded amount.
“The suspect later came to realize that the victim knew him and that his identity would be revealed if he released him.
“Consequently, the suspect decided to hack the victim to death in his room and waited until night time, bundled the victim in a sack and buried the body in a shallow grave.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime as the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, directed that the suspect be charged to court for prosecution.
“In the same vein, the CP has advised parents and guardians to be vigilant and security-wise about the whereabouts of their children,” he advised.
Similarly, the Police Spokesman said that two suspects were also arrested for allegedly kidnapping one Samaila Gidado, a resident of Gayar Mukal, Duguri District, of Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi state and collecting N3.1 million ransom.
He said that the suspects were arrested after they were shot during a gun battle with the Police in their hideout, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Wakil said: “On October 25, 2022, at about 2.30am, Abubakar Yakubu (20) aka Dogo and Abdullahi Adamu (40), all males of Quanpan, LGA, Plateau State, criminally conspired with others, now at large, while armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons stormed the house of Samaila Gidado, male, of Gayar mukal Duguri district Alkaleri LGA Bauchi State.
“They kidnapped him to an unknown destination and demanded and collected the sum of N3,190,000, as ransom before he was released.
“During the investigation, the team of detectives was assigned to trace and arrest the suspects. In the process of the investigation, a piece of information was received from a reliable source that they were seen in a bush.
“A tactical team was quickly drafted and cordoned the area and engaged them in a gun duel. As a result of our superior firepower, two of the suspects got injured and were successfully arrested while others escaped with gun injuries; all efforts have been put in place to arrest the remaining gang members.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
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According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
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Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
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State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.
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