The police in Kano have told the story of how the proprietor of a private school in the city kidnapped and killing a 5-year-old pupil.
Abdulmalik Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids School, was accused of killing Hanifa Abubakar, who was declared missing 46 days ago.
An online newspaper, Daily Nigerian quoted family sources that said the Tanko was among the first set of people who went to console Hanifa’s parents after the abduction.
“He was full of tears when he visited the family to console them over the abduction,” the newspaper quoted the uncle of the girl, Suraj Sulaiman, saying.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, on Thursday, the police told the chilling story of the crime, saying, “Sometimes 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.
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi, meets with heads of security agencies in the state, re-strategizes 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, Nassarawa 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, is 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 realised that the victim recognised 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 sometimes 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 They planned but later rescinded their action. Fatima was also arrested.
“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 the scene.
“The body was exhumed and rushed to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Kano, examined, confirmed dead by a medical doctor and released to the relatives for burial according to Islamic rites.
“Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”
