Kaduna court begins trial of killers of minor

The Kaduna State High Court 12 has commenced the trial of Sani Adamu aka Galadima over the kidnapping of a six-year-old boy, Mohammed Kabiru, which led to his death.

Suspects, Umar Mainasara and Muhammadu Nazifi, both of them deceased now, were said to have kidnapped Mohammed on April 24, 2021, in Badarawa area of Kaduna State and took him to Kano State where they murdered him after collecting ransom.

Arewa Trust recalls that one of the suspects linked to the killing of the boy had narrated while being paraded by the Kaduna State Police Command how he and another suspect suffocated the boy after collecting a ransom of N1m from his parents.

Sani Adamu aka Galadima, said to be ex-military personnel, said he held the boy’s legs while one Umar Mainasara, a water vendor, covered his nose.

However, the only surviving suspect, Sani Adamu, is being tried on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping contrary to and punishable under Section 247 (1) and 246 (c) of the Kaduna State Penal Code.

According to the proof of evidence made available to Arewa Trust, the father of the victim, Kabiru Magayaki, laid a complaint at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Malali, when he discovered that his son was missing.

He then narrated how the kidnappers demanded N30m before they agreed to collect N1m. But the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping, Nazifi, now deceased, denied the allegations, saying he was being framed.

Another suspect, Umar Mainasara, also deceased, denied taking part in the killing but confessed his role as the negotiator. The trial is slated to continue on October 6, 2021.