A wave of grief and outrage has swept through Birdingau community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State following the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old boy, Abdul Auwal, whose lifeless body was recovered from a village well.
Residents said the tragic incident was uncovered at daybreak when women who had gone to fetch water discovered the teenager’s body floating inside the well, triggering panic and mourning across the community. He was later buried according to Islamic rites.
Speaking with our correspondent, Hajiya Badiya Sani, a member of the Nigeria Human Rights group in Kankara, alleged that a man identified as Shamsudeen Sule sexually assaulted the boy before killing him and dumping his body in the well.
She said the suspect has been arrested and taken to Katsina, where he is currently undergoing police investigation.
Badiya claimed the tragedy might have been prevented, alleging that Abdul Auwal had earlier confided in his biological mother that the same suspect threatened to kill him after sexually abusing him.
“The boy told his mother that this man said he would kill him after sleeping with him. Unfortunately, nothing was done until the threat became a reality,” she said.
She further alleged that when the body was recovered, there was no indication that the boy had drowned.
“His stomach was flat, and there was no sign that he drank water. That is why the community believes he was killed before his body was thrown into the well,” she added.
The bereaved family and residents are calling on the Katsina State Police Command and other relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecute anyone found guilty, insisting that justice must prevail for the slain teenager.
The Katsina State Police Command, through its Spokesman Sadiq Abubakar Aliyu is yet to respond to the message sent to him several hours nor issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
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