POLICE APPREHEND 19-YR OLD GIRL BELIEVED TO BE BEHIND ABDUCTION AND KILLING OF 2 7-YR OLD CHILDREN IN BAUCHI

…Avert religious crisis in Toro

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – A 19-year-old girl, Esther Gambo, has been apprehended by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly abducting and murdering two children that were both seven years each.

This was as the police Command also averted a tragic incident of the alleged abduction and murder of another set of two children which led to public unrest along religious divide in Toro Local Government Area of the State.

However, in the midst of the development, the State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori, affirmed the commitment of the Command in ensuring that justice was served to all as the suspects and others arrested while investigations have commenced.

Spokesperson of the police command, CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, in a statement said that Esther Gambo, from Lemoro Village, reportedly enticed two girls, Khadija Sama’ila and A’isha Dahiru, from Unguwan Sarkin Yaki Village.”

Wakil said the two seven years old girls were later found to have been killed by the suspect for reasons yet to be uncovered.

The Police Public Relations Officer, said that preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the accused, Esther Gambo, lured the girls intending to obtain a newborn female child belonging to Nafisa Dahiru.

Following her acquisition of the baby, Esther allegedly led the two girls to a nearby maize farm, where she unlawfully ended their lives with a machete before fleeing the scene.

According to Wakil; “Upon receipt of the report, a team of Police Officers, collaborating with local vigilante groups, promptly responded and successfully recovered the deceased bodies of the young girls, apprehended Esther Gambo, and rescued the kidnapped newborn victim”.

Following the development, public unrest ensued, predominantly among the local Muslim youths, resulting in violent protests, including the arson of Churches and attempts to set the Tulu Divisional Police Headquarters on fire.

However, reinforcements from the Area Command in Toro and neighbouring Divisions were deployed to restore order and successfully repelled the aggressive actions against the Police station.

As a result of the unrest, 16 suspects were arrested in connection with the case. The suspects included; Abbas Abdullahi – 20 years, Mubarak Auwal – 19 years, Abdullahi Muhammad (Alias P.A) – 19 years, Dauda Abdullahi – 19 years and Abubakar Sama’ila – 18 years.

Other suspects included; Abdulmutallib Ibrahim – 18 years, Yazid Auwal – 20 years, Abdulrahman Ibrahim – 17 years, Abdulwahid Sulaiman – 17 years, Salihu Shuaibu – 20 years, Sirajo Halliru – 24 years, Musayib Abdullahi – 21 years, Ibrahim Abubakar – 19 years, Esther Idi – 19 years, Gambo Yakubu – 20 years and Idi Bitrus – 50 years.

Commenting on the development, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu emphasised the importance of upholding the law and maintaining public order within Bauchi State.

Aliyu expressed concern over recent actions that undermined legal principles and appealed to community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

The police Commissioner called on everyone to respect individuals’ rights regardless of circumstances and highlighted that law enforcement must remain in the hands of trained professionals.

The police boss assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and urged all to remain calm as the situation is being addressed appropriately.