Police arrest murder suspect of 12-year-old in Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has announced the successful arrest of a suspect in the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Christopher Bala in Magama Gumau town, Toro LGA.

The victim who was abducted while on an errand was the biological son of a serving police officer, ASP Bala Yarima of Gumau Division, Bauchi State Police Command.

According to the Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, in a press statement made available to journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, “On March 21st, 2024, at approximately 0800hrs, the Bauchi State Police Command received a distress call regarding the abduction of Christopher Bala, son of ASP Bala Yerima, from Gumau town.”

He added that, “Upon receiving the report, detectives from the Toro Division immediately responded to initiate a rescue operation and apprehend the perpetrators of the act.”

The PPRO added that preliminary investigations, which identified 20-year-old Magama Gumau resident Rabi’u Adamu as the prime suspect, revealed alarming details of extortion and blood relations between the suspect, victim, and victim’s family.

He stated that Adamu eventually confessed to the kidnapping and the tragic murder of young Christopher, admitting to having extorted the sum of NGN200,000 in ransom from the victim’s father, ASP Yarima.

He was also said to have admitted that, fearing that the murdered Christopher recognised him, he went ahead to strangle the 12-year-old victim and bury the body in a shallow grave at Bazale village hill.

Wakili Ahmed added that, following established procedures, the Bauchi State Police Command exhumed the victim’s remains for a postmortem examination conducted at the General Hospital, Toro, which confirmed the cause of death as strangulation.

Subsequently, the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation, following a directive by the state commissioner of police, Auwal Musa Mohammed.

The Commissioner of Police expressed his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the late Christopher Bala, assuring them that a relentless pursuit of justice is underway.

He also called on households to be more vigilant over the people they keep close, particularly family and friends, for the safety and security of their immediate family members.

The CP was assured of the police’s unwavering and relentless efforts in sustaining the battle against crime and criminality in the state.

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