The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Rabiu Safiyanu, over his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case that led to the death of a four-year-old boy.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, said detectives from the ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, led by the Divisional Police Officer carried out the arrest after receiving a report of a missing child.
According to the statement, the case was reported on Saturday, March 21, by Salisu Yunusa, a resident of Nasarawa Madina Quarters, who informed the police that his son, Yunusa Salisu, had been missing since March 18.
The father further revealed that he received a call from an unidentified number on March 19, demanding a ransom of N500,000, out of which he paid N100,000, but the child was not released.
“Investigation into the matter led to the arrest of one Rabiu Safiyanu, 20, of the same address, who is a friend to the complainant’s younger brother and had free access to the house,” the statement read.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to abducting the child, strangling him, and dumping his body at Warinje Hills before making further ransom demands.
The command said the decomposing body of the victim was later recovered from a shallow grave, with visible marks of strangulation.
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A rope suspected to have been used in committing the crime was also found at the scene.
The statement added that the Officer in Charge of the Police Clinic confirmed the victim dead.
It was reported that the body was photographed and subsequently released to the family for burial at the site on public health grounds.
Habib disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case for discreet investigation and prosecution.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities to security agencies.