President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the gruesome murder of a five-year-old school girl, Hanifa Abubakar in Kano State by her teacher and other accomplices.
Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu, while reacting to the development, lauded the efforts of the police and the secret service in unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of Hanifa.
The killing of Hanifa by her teachers and burial in the school premises after they had collected N6 million ransom has elicited reactions from the presidency.
Recall that little Hanifa had gone missing since December last year, prompting intelligence agencies to launch a search into her whereabouts.
Read also: Alleged killer of Five-year-old Hanifa shed tears in Kano- Family
The security agencies made a breakthrough recently, as her body was discovered in a shallow grave in Kano, after almost two months of search by security operatives.
The police have arrested her teacher and his other accomplices in the child’s kidnap and murder.
Buhari said the entire country, which was following the incident with keen interest, were optimistic that Hanifa would be rescued alive.
The President also said the painstaking detective operation by the security operatives, which led to the discovery of the corpse and the arrest of the suspects who have already made confessions, was quite commendable.
“When breakthroughs like this happen, people will talk differently of law enforcement,” the President stated.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the little school girl, the President urged her parents to bear the sad loss with courage and fortitude in God.
He equally charged the Police and Ministry of Justice to uphold the integrity of the detective work that busted the case by preparing well and presenting a good case that will earn the respect of the court.
Kano Government shuts the school
Meanwhile, Kano state government has ordered the immediate closure of Noble Kids Academy, a private school where the pupil was buried.
The police had said on investigation, Tanko confessed that he kidnapped the victim and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded the ransom.
“On the 18/12/2021, having realised that the victim recognised him, he claimed to have poisoned her to death, conspired with one Hashim Isyaku, ‘m’, took and buried her in a shallow grave located at the private school premises located at Kwanar ‘Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State,” the police said in a statement.
The body was exhumed and taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano where she was confirmed dead.
Muhammad Kiru, Kano commissioner for education, while announcing the closure of the school on Friday said “the state government would commence an investigation of unregistered private schools and teachers to check such criminal activities.”
“The school has also been closed till further notice,” he said.
The police had also said the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
