January 12, 2022

The Police Command in Kano State has arrested one Auwalu Abdulrashid, 21, alias Lauje, for alleged kidnap and murder of a 13-year-old girl, Zuwaira.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement said that the police received complaint on June 21, 2021, that a 13-year-old girl, Zuwaira, was kidnapped in Tofa local government area of the state.

The PPRO said that the kidnapper demanded N1 million ransom, and later settled for N400,000.

“While negotiating for the ransom, the body of the victim was discovered in an uncompleted building, slaughtered and buried,” he said.

He revealed that, on receipt of the report, the police visited the scene, where the corpse was exhumed and examined by a Medical Doctor.

“The corpse was later released to the deceased relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic rites,” he said.

He explained that the Commissioner of Police, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, immediately instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder, led by SP Shehu Dahiru, to arrest the culprits.

“The Puff Adder team swung into action. Sustained efforts and prolonged follow-up, led to the arrest of Auwalu Abdulrashid at Dan Marke village, Dambatta local government on Jan. 9, 2022, which is, 202 days after the incident.

“On preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed that, he singlehandedly kidnapped the victim and took her to an uncompleted building located at Tofa town, Kano State.

“The suspect told police that he strangled her neck after which, he used knife and slashed her throat, and later buried her.

“Abdulrashid then demanded ransom of N1 million, but later settled for N400,000,” he said.

The PPRO also said that the suspect further confessed that, on June 7, 2021, he kidnapped a younger brother of the victim, Muttaka, 3, in Tofa local government.

“He demanded for ransom of N2 million, later settled and collected N100,000, and abandoned the child at Dawanau Special Primary School, Dawakin Tofa local government area,” he said.

Haruna-Kiyawa revealed that the suspect would be charged to court. (NAN)