Law enforcement apprehends abduction suspect, uncovers remains of captive in makeshift burial site in Bauchi

A 20-year-old suspect, Rabiu Safiyanu, has been apprehended by the Bauchi State Police Command in connection with a kidnapping incident that ultimately led to the death of a four-year-old boy.

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The arrest was made by detectives from the 'C' Divisional Headquarters in Bauchi, who were led by the Divisional Police Officer, following a report of a missing child filed on Saturday, March 21, by Salisu Yunusa of Nasarawa Madina Quarters.

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According to the report, Yunusa's son, Yunusa Salisu, had gone missing on March 18, and the father subsequently received a call from an unidentified number on March 19, demanding a ransom of N500,000, out of which he paid N100,000, but the child was not released.

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Investigations into the matter led to the arrest of Rabiu Safiyanu, a 20-year-old friend of the complainant's younger brother, who had free access to the house, and who reportedly confessed to abducting the child during interrogation.

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Safiyanu allegedly strangled the child and dumped his body at Warinje Hills, before making further ransom demands, and the decomposing body of the victim was later recovered from a shallow grave with visible marks of strangulation.

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A rope suspected to have been used in committing the crime was also found at the scene, and the Officer in Charge of the Police Clinic confirmed the victim dead, after which the body was photographed and released to the family for burial at the site on public health grounds.

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The Commissioner of Police in the state, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case for discreet investigation and prosecution, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib.

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Habib also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities to security agencies, in a statement issued on Sunday.