Police arrest man for ‘abducting, killing’ six-year-old cousin in Kaduna

The police command in Kaduna has arrested one Abdulazeez Idris for allegedly abducting and killing Aisha Dahiru, his six-year-old cousin, in Zaria.

Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the police command, on Sunday, said the girl was kidnapped by the suspect on her way to Islamiya school.

He said the suspect later killed the girl after she recognised him while in captivity.

“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,” the police spokesperson said.

“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 ₦8,000,000 (eight million naira) 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.”

Hassan said the suspect has confessed to cutting the six-year-old girl’s neck with a razor blade and then dumped her body in a well.

The police spokesperson said Audu Ali, the commissioner of police in Kaduna, has promised that the case would be diligently investigated to ensure that justice is served for the deceased and her grieving family.