Abdulmalik Tanko, the proprietor of a private school in Kano, Noble Kids School, has been arrested by the police for abducting and killing a 5-year-old pupil of the school, Hanifa Abubakar.
The pupil was abducted at Kawaji community in Yankaba area of Kano metropolis on December 4, 2021.
Hanifa was reportedly abducted on her way home from an Islamiyya school in the company of other pupils. She was said to have been whisked away in a commercial tricycle. Her abductor later demanded N6 million ransom from the pupil’s parents.
According to Wasila Dahiru, an aunt of the victim, Hanifa’s abductor was arrested, on Wednesday, while he was trying to receive part of the ransom.
Hanifa was found dead, with her body cut into pieces and buried at a school premises located at Tudunwada.
Family sources said the proprietor was among the first set of people who came to console her parents after the abduction
“He was full of tears when he visited the family to console them over the abduction,” said the uncle of the girl, Suraj Sulaiman.
A statement by the police on Thursday said the school teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, was the one who abducted and killed her.
“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,” police said in a statement by the command spokesman, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa.
A statement by the police on Thursday said the school teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, was the one who abducted and killed her.
“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,” police said in a statement by the command spokesman, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa.
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 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, 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 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.
“Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”