Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested Esther Gambo, 19-year-old individual, for alleged abduction and murder of two seven-year-old girls from Unguwan Sarkin Yaki village in Toro local government area of the state.
In a press statement in Bauchi yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil said upon receipt of the report, a team of police officers, collaborating with local vigilante groups, promptly responded.
He added that the officers recovered the deceased bodies of the young girls, apprehended Esther Gambo and rescued a kidnapped newborn victim.
According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations 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.
CSP Wakil explained that public unrest ensued after the incident, predominantly among the local Muslim youth, resulting in violent protests, including the arson of churches and attempts to set fire to the Tulu Divisional Police Headquarters.
He, however said that reinforcements from the Area Command Toro and neighbouring divisions, successfully repelled the aggressive actions against the police station while 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
Wakil gave names of the suspect as Abbas Abdullahi, 20 years; Mubarak Auwal, 19; Abdullahi Muhammad (Alias P.A) 19, and Dauda Abdullahi, 19.
Others were Abubakar Sama’ila, 18; Abdulmutallib Ibrahim, 18; Yazid Auwal, 20; Abdulrahman Ibrahim, 17; Abdulwahid Sulaiman, 17; Salihu Shuaibu, 20; Sirajo Halliru, 24; Musayib Abdullahi, 21; Ibrahim Abubakar, 19; Esther Idi, 19; Gambo Yakubu, 20 and
Idi Bitrus, 50.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu assured that a thorough investigation is underway, urging the people to remain calm as the situation was being addressed.
