By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Residents of Zaria in Kaduna State were on Sunday, 12 May thrown into mourning mood following the arrest of one AbdulAzeez Idris, who allegedly abducted and killed his six-year-old cousin, Aisha Dahiru.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, while confirming the case, said Dahiru was kidnapped while on her way to Islamiya school (Qur’anic school).
Hassan disclosed that the six-year-old was killed after being recognised by the cousin while hostage.
This was despite the abductee collecting a N8m ransom through an unknown caller, according to the police spokesman
Hassan, who said the incident happened on February 12, 2024, noted that the case had since been referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the SCID Kaduna, after the victim’s father, Saidu Dahiru, lodged the complaint.
The police chief in a statement, said, “On February 12, 2024, at about 1:00 hrs, Mr. Saidu Dahiru, father of the victim, a resident of Angwan Juma’a, Zaria, reported to the Zaria City Police Station that his daughter, Aisha Saidu, a six-year-old female, went missing on her way to Islamiyya school.
“According to Mr. Dahiru, Aisha was allegedly abducted by her cousin, Abdulazeez Idris, also residing in Angwan Juma’a, Zaria. Following her disappearance, Dahiru received a phone call from an unknown individual, later identified as the perpetrator, demanding a ransom of N8m for her safe return.
“The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of SCID, Kaduna, where they traced and arrested the perpetrator, identified as Abdulazeez Idris, in Makarfi Local Government.
“The suspect confessed to the heinous crime, admitting to slaying the innocent child by brutally slashing her neck with a razor blade on the account that she recognised him and then went on to dispose of her lifeless body in a well.”
The police spokesman quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Audu Ali, as assuring members of the public that the case would be diligently investigated to ensure that justice was served for Aisha Saidu and her grieving family.
According to Hassan, the suspect will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
