The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Anas Auwal for allegedly killing a five-year-old he kidnapped.
According to the police, the 25-year-old, who lured his victim with sweets, contacted the boy’s father to pay a ransom of N5 million.
Auwal was said to have taken the boy to his room pending the time his father would raise the money.
However, he reportedly hacked the five-year-old to death after discovering that he recognised him, according to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil.
Wakil, on Thursday, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Sanda, had directed that the suspect be charged.
The statement said, “The command has arrested Anas Auwal, 25, from Tsangaya village via Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State for kidnapping and gruesome murder of a five-year-old boy, Abba Yahuza, of the same address.
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“Preliminary investigation revealed that on October 11, 2022, around 2pm, the suspect lured the victim into his room with sweets. He later called the victim’s father on phone and threatened him to bring the sum of N5m as ransom but the father told him that he could not raise the demanded amount.
“The suspect later came to realise 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 him in a sack and buried the body in a shallow grave.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime as the Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman Sanda, directed that the suspect be charged.
“In the same vein, the CP advised parents and guardians to be vigilant and security conscious about the whereabouts of their children.”
In a related development, the police spokesman said two suspects were also arrested for allegedly kidnapping one Samaila Gidado and collecting N3.1m ransom.
He said the suspects were arrested after they were shot during a gun battle with the police in their hideout, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.