David Arin

 

DAILY COURIER – Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested a 12-year-old boy for kidnapping.

 

The Command, in a statement issued on Saturday, by its Spokesperson, SP Ahmad Wakil, said the suspect allegedly kidnapped a three-year-old baby in Magama Gumau community, Toro Local Government Area of the State.

 

According to him, the suspect lured the victim into an isolated area and called her father, demanding N150,000 as a ransom for her release.

 

“A discreet investigation revealed that the suspect lured the victim to an isolated place near a football field at Kara Area of Magama Gumau and called the victim’s father on phone and made the demand.

 

“On hearing the demand, the victim’s father hung up and refused to take subsequent calls.

 

“After a while, the victim’s father called the suspect and identified him through his familiar voice.

 

“He called his name, but the suspect kept mute, hung up, swiftly took the girl to her parent’s house where he told the family that he sighted her crying near a football field”, SP Wakil stated.

 

He added that the victim’s family immediately reported the suspect to the police for necessary action.

 

Wakil said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and said he would have used the ransom money to buy clothes and phones.

 

“Investigation also showed that the suspect got to know about kidnapping for ransom when some time ago, his friend was kidnapped in Kano State.

 

“Those who kidnapped his friend were paid ransom before he was released and that was how the suspect learned that money must be paid to set a kidnap victim free”, he stated.

 

Commissioner in the state, Aminu Alhassan, admonished parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance over their wards and children.