In a tragic incident that has shaken the community of Rinjin Gani in Bauchi State, the local police have arrested a suspect linked to the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Kamal Aliyu. The news was officially announced by the Bauchi State Police Command through their Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, in a statement released on August 16, 2024.
The heart-wrenching case began on August 4, 2024, when Kamal was reported missing. Eyewitness accounts indicated that he was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in the village. In response to the alarming situation, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) from the Toro Police Divisional headquarters initiated a thorough search and rescue operation, mobilizing resources to locate the young boy.
On August 15, 2024, a breakthrough occurred when police received credible intelligence that led to the apprehension of Ibrahim Mohamed Liman, a 23-year-old man from the same community as Kamal. This arrest raised eyebrows due to Liman’s proximity to the victim’s family, as he was a close neighbor.
During police interrogation, Liman confessed to his involvement in the heinous crime, revealing that he conspired with another individual, whose identity remains unknown. The suspect disclosed a chilling account of how he lured Kamal by pretending to deliver a message to his father, Alhaji Ali Rinji. This deception led the young boy into a nearby bush, where, tragically, he was killed and buried in a shallow grave.
Adding to the horror of the situation, Liman admitted that he and his accomplice had demanded a ransom of N200,000 from Kamal’s father. Although the father complied and attempted to deliver the ransom to a predetermined location, the suspects were thwarted by the presence of security operatives nearby, preventing them from collecting the money.
In light of the severity of the case, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, has ordered that the investigation be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive inquiry into the matter. The community, now in mourning, grapples with the loss of a young life and the shocking betrayal from someone they trusted as a neighbor.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children and highlights the ongoing battle against crime in the region. The police continue to urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help prevent such tragedies in the future.