Update: 5-year-old Kano girl was kidnapped and killed by her schoolteacher; police exhume body (graphic photos)

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a schoolteacher, Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, for abducting and killing his 5-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar, despite collecting part of the N6m ransom he demanded.  Read here

Hanifa was abducted at Kawaji, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, December 4, 2021. 

Spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday, January 20, said that Tanko, the proprietor of a private school, poisoned the child to death on December 18, after she recognized him. 

He then conspired with one Hashim Isyaku, and buried her body in a shallow grave located at the private school premises in Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA. 

The suspects led a combined team of operatives of DSS Kano State, Kano State Police Command’s Medical Team and Team of Operation Puff Adder to where they buried the body.  

The body was exhumed and taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano, examined and confirmed dead by a medical doctor. 

“Sometime on the 04/12/2021 at about 2030hrs, a report was received from a resident of Dakata Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State that, one Hanifa Abubakar, ‘f’, aged 5 years old, was kidnapped and a ransom of Six Million Naira (N6,000,000.00) was demanded,” the statement reads.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi met with heads of Security Agencies in the State, re-strategized for effective service delivery and raised a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru to arrest the culprits

“Sustained efforts and prolonged follow – up led to the arrest of one Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, ‘m’, aged 30 years old, of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarwa LGA, Kano State and one Hashim Isyaku, ‘m’, aged 37 years old, of same address by a detective team of the Department of State Service (DSS) Kano State

“On investigation, Abdulmalik confessed that, the victim, Hanifa was his student at a private school in Kwanar Dakata, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State. He kidnapped her and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of Six Million Naira (N6,000,000.00)

“On the 18/12/2021, having realized that, the victim recognized him, he claimed to have poisoned her to death, conspired with one Hashim Isyaku, ‘m’, took and buried her in a shallow grave located at the private school premises located at Kwanar ‘Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State

“Hashim also confessed that, sometime in the month of November, 2021, the principal suspect, Abdulmalik met him and one Fatima Jibreel Musa, ‘f’, 27 years old, of Layin Falaki Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA Kano State and ordered them to kidnap Hanifa. They plan but later rescinded their action. Fatima was also arrested

“The suspects led a combine Team of Operatives of DSS Kano State, Kano State Police Command’s Medical Team and Team of Operation Puff Adder to the scene

“The body was exhumed and rushed to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano, examined, confirmed dead by a Medical Doctor and release to the relatives for burial according to Islamic Rites.

The case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.