Minors’ Killings: Why the sudden rise, and way forward? -By Mary Bawa

It is not a crime to be a Nigerian. Hanifa did not do any wrong to become a Nigerian.

For decades, Nigeria especially the Northern region has been faced with alot of attrocities, ranging from Kidnapping, banditry, rape and lots more of heinous and criminal acts. But the most annoying and heartbreaking of all, is the abduction and gruesome butchering of the 5year old beautiful Hanifa Abubakar of Kano State, an incident, which has drawn National Condemnation.

Hanifa Abubakar, has since December 4th, 2021, been kidnapped. A statement by the Police on Thursday, 20th January, 2022, said the School teacher, Abdulmalik Muhammed Tanko was the abductor and killer of his pupil, the 5year old beautiful Hanifa.

“Sometimes on the 4th/12/2021, at about 2030hours, a report was received from a resident of Dakata Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State, that one Hanifa Abubakar, ‘F’ aged 5years old, was kidnapped and a ransom of (6,000,000,00) was demanded, Police said in a statement by the Command Spokesman, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa.
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shuaibu Dikko, meets with heads of Security agencies in the State, re-strategizes for effective service delivery and raised a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru to arrest the culprits.

“Sustained efforts and prolonged follow-up led to the arrest of one Abdulmalik Muhammed Tanko ‘M’, aged 30years old, of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State and one Hashim Isyaku, ‘M’ aged 37 years old, of same address by a detective team of the Departmenr of State Services (DSS) Kano State.
“On investigation, Abdulmalik confessed that the victim, Hanifa is his student at a private School in Kwanar Dakata Nasarawa LGA, Kano State. He kidnapped her and took her to his house where he contact her relatives and demanded a ransom of Six Million Naira(6,000,000,00). On the 18/12/2021, having realized that the victim recognized him, he claimed to have poisoned her to death, conspired with one Hashim Isyaku, ‘M’, took and buried her in a shallow grave located at Kwanar ‘Yan gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State.

“Hashim also confessed that sometimes in the month of November, 2021, the Principal suspect, Abdulmalik, met him and one Fatima Jibreel Musa, ‘F’, 27years old of Layin Falaki Tudun Murtala Guarters, Nassarawa LGA Kano State and ordered them to Kidnap Hanifa. They plan but later rescinded their action. Fatima was also arrested.
“The suspects led a combine Team of Operatives of DSS Kano State, Kano Police Command’s Medical Team of Operation Puff Adder to the scene. The body was exhumed and rushed to Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist hospital Kano, examined, confirmed dead by a Medical Doctor and released to the relatives for burial according to Islamic Rites.
“Case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”

Hmm! We are in the midst of saddest and most excruciating times in the history of the world.
Indeed, the gruesome butchering of this harmless Hanifa is condemnable, and the perpetrators of this notorious crime must not go scot-free!
A very big Kudos to the joint Operatives of the Kano State Police Command and the DSS for their swift and tactical action in bringing the abductors and killers of this little girl to book.

No where is safe! Not even are our Schools. Nobody is safe! Not even are the little ones who are termed as Leaders of tomorrow.
Shehu Sani says and i quote “It has reached a point in this Country when our children go to School, it doesn’t matter wether they learn or not, but they should just come back home safely.”
Indeed, without a doubt, Nigeria is gradually falling deep into a state like this, if Government doesn’t take drastict action against this Kidnappers. Declaring this monsters terrorists is not enough. We need public execution of these kidnappers as a deterrent, if at all we want to have a rest from these beasts.

Imagine your abductor and killer going to your house among the first people to empathize with your family with sadness and all manner of tears. Family sources said, Abdulmalik Muhammed Tanko, the abductor and killer of Hanifa, was among the first set of people who went to console her parents after the abduction.
“He was full of tears when he visited the family to console them over the abduction” said, Hanifa’s Uncle, Suraj Suleiman.

Hanifa is the latest victim of man’s inhumanity to man.
May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, and comfort upon her parents and loved ones. Amen!

Mary Bawa, writes from Mass Communication Department, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi State.
nmabawamary@gmail.com