Man Lures 5-year-old With Sweet, Hacks Him To Death After Demanding N5m Ransom

A 25-year-old man has being apprehended by the Bauchi State Police for allegedly killing a five-year-old boy.

The suspect identified as Anas Auwal had lured the lad to his room with sweets and contacted the boy’s father demanding a ransom of N5m.

However, the victim’s father was unable to raise the money.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, in a statement on Thursday said the suspect hacked the boy to death when he realized the boy recognized him.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Sanda, had directed that the suspect be charged.

The statement said, “The command has arrested Anas Auwal, 25, from Tsangaya village via Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State for kidnapping and gruesome murder of a five-year-old boy, Abba Yahuza, of the same address.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that on October 11, 2022, around 2pm, the suspect lured the victim into his room with sweets. He later called the victim’s father on phone and threatened him to bring the sum of N5m as ransom but the father told him that he could not raise the demanded amount.

“The suspect later came to realise that the victim knew him and that his identity would be revealed if he released him.

“Consequently, the suspect decided to hack the victim to death in his room and waited until night time, bundled him in a sack, and buried the body in a shallow grave.

Auwal later confessed to the crime and the Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman Sanda, directed that he be charged.

The CP also urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and security conscious about the whereabouts of their children.