Kano: 8-Year-Old schoolgirl kidnapped, murdered after N3m ransom paid

An eight-year-old, Asma’u Wa’alamu, has been reportedly kidnapped and murdered in like manner in Zaria, Kaduna State.

As shared by Vanguard, sources revealed that Asma’u was in captivity for over a month. One of the sources, who did not want his name in print, said the incident was allegedly perpetrated by one Kabir, a neighbour to the victim’s father, Alhaji Shuaibu Wa’alamu.

A post by one Musa Ahmed and shared by Hausa Fulani on Instagram, hinted that the young girl was abducted while on her way to buy a recharge card, adding that a ransom of N3 million was demanded and paid by the family. 

“My friend’s daughter, an eight-year-old girl was kidnapped on her way to buy a recharge card in our neighbourhood. She was with her abductors for 42 days who demanded the sum of N3 million which was given to them, but sadly, they killed the girl and buried her in a shallow grave”, the post read.

Meanwhile, the father of the murdered schoolgirl, Alhaji Shuaibu Waalamu, accused his neighbour of kidnapping and killing his 8-year-old daughter, Asma’u, after he had paid N3 million ransom. 

Speaking in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Wa’alamu said Asma’u was abducted on the 9th of December 2021 and when she failed to return home, he lodged a formal complaint with the police. 

“After some days, the abductors called me and demanded N15m but we negotiated and I first gave them N2m. They collected the money in Rigasa area of Kaduna. Later, they called me again and demanded another N1. 045m as the only condition to release my daughter. 

“I did not argue. I gave the money to them. However, after paying the ransom as demanded on the 19th of January, they called me and told me that they had killed my daughter and switched off their phone.

“You see since from the initial stage, I was following her kidnappers and doing their bidding because of the fear of losing her. Now, they have killed her”, Wa’alamu lamented.

The distraught father stated that he knew those that kidnapped and killed her daughter. “I know those who kidnapped her and killed her. They are around us. I’ve strong evidence. I have told the police. And they are on it. In fact, the suspects have been arrested,” he stressed.

When Vanguard called the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Kaduna, ASP Muhammad Jalige, said investigations have commenced on the matter and the command would address the media soon. 

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