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.”