A 16-year-old, Abubakakar Abdulbasir has kidnapped a 4-year-old in Katsina and demanded a ransom of N70,000.
A woman passing by the uncompleted building where the girl was hidden in Marabar Kankara town, Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State rescued the young girl.
According to police report, the woman was aware the four-year-old girl was missing.
Upon sighting Abdulbasir with the girl in the uncompleted building she asked him what he was doing with the girl and he replied that they were just chatting. The woman proceeded to take the girl home and narrate the encounter to her parents.
The father took the case to Malumfashi Police Station and Abdulbasir’s father was invited for questioning concerning his son who was at large.
The suspect later returned home and turned himself in when he was told the police were searching for him.
While confessing to the crime he said: “Yes it is true that I kidnapped Halima my cousin. I hid her in an uncompleted building outskirt of town and then put a phone call through to her parents demanding for N70,000. I also threatened that they may lose her if they fall to provide the money. Immediately, I terminated the call, my conscience prick me that this path I have toed is dangerous and against my religion. I am very sorry for my action. I am asking for forgiveness. I have realized my mistakes.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Superintendent of Police, SP Isah Gambo, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
He said: “One Sanusi Abubakar of Marabar-Kankara village in Malumfashi LGA reported to the police that since his 4-years-old daughter, Halimatu Sanusi got missing and all efforts to trace her whereabout proved abortive. He later received a phone call that his daughter has been kidnapped, and he is being threatened to pay the sum of seventy thousand naira (N70,000) or risk losing her. Subsequently, the Police Anti-Kidnapping unit, swung into action, carrying out a diligent and meticulous investigation which led to the arrest of the mastermind, one Abubakar Abdulbasir, ‘M’, aged 16yrs of Marabar-Kankara village. In the course of investigation, suspect confessed to the commission of the offence.”
