The Kano State Government has confirmed the arrest of five men accused of kidnapping and murdering a one-year-old girl, Sakina Mamuda, in Duhun Bake village, Gwarzo Local Government Area.
The disturbing incident was revealed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, during a press conference held on Thursday at the Kano Government House.
According to Dederi, the suspects — Zailani Rabiu, Hafizu Yusuf, Abubakar Abdulkareem, Umar Lawan, and Amadu Salisu — are all residents of the same community as the victim. He said the group conspired to abduct the little girl and demanded a ransom from her family.
Shockingly, after collecting the ransom, the suspects went on to kill Sakina and dumped her body in an abandoned well. “Their actions are heartbreaking and hard to understand,” Dederi said. “They murdered an innocent baby even after getting what they wanted.”
The suspects are currently in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and are being investigated for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and homicide.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed deep sorrow over the killing and commended the DSS and other security agencies for their quick response in arresting those involved.
“This is a tragedy that has shaken the entire state. I thank the security agencies for acting swiftly. Justice must and will be served,” the governor said.
He also highlighted the state government’s commitment to improving security and preventing such tragic incidents in the future. “We will continue to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve coordination among security agencies,” he added.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a growing concern in parts of Nigeria, with children and vulnerable individuals often targeted. The Kano State government has pledged to work harder to protect its residents and ensure that such crimes are met with the full force of the law.
