Sweet-waving kidnapper lures five-year-old, kills victim for recognising him

A 25-year-old man has been arrested by the police in Bauchi State for allegedly killing a five-year-old child.

The suspect, Anas Auwal, reportedly lured the minor with sweets and took him to his room.

He later contacted the boy’s father and demanded N5m ransom, which the latter could not raise.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspect hacked the boy to death after he realised that he recognised him.

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He 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.

“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.