Abdulmalik Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids Nursery and Primary School, Kawana, Kano, has been arrested over the death of Hanfia Abubakar, a five-year-old pupil of his school. The pupil was abducted at Kawaji community in Yankaba area of Kano metropolis in December. Hanifa was reportedly abducted on her way home from an Islamiyya school in the company of other pupils. She was said to have been whisked away in a commercial tricycle, locally called Adaidata Sahu or Keke NAPEP. The reports of her abduction had sent a wave of shock across Kano as many residents took safety measures seriously. Her abductor later demanded N6 million ransom from the pupil’s parents. According to Wasila Dahiru, Hanifa’s abductor was arrested, on Wednesday, while he was trying to receive part of the ransom. Hanifa was found dead, with her body cut into pieces and buried at a school premises located at Tudunwada. Commenting on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said after sustained efforts, a detective team combining the police and men of the Department of State Service (DSS), Kano, arrested Tanko, aged 30 years, and one Hashim Isyaku, aged 37 years old, both of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarwa LGA. He said during interrogation, Tanko confessed that the victim was his student at a private school in Kwanar Dakata, Nassarawa LGA. He said kidnapped her and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million. “On the 18/12/2021, having realized that, the victim recognized 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 spokesman said. He said Hashim also confessed that sometime in November, 2021, the principal suspect, Mohammed, met him and one Fatima Jibreel Musa, 27 years old, of Layin Falaki Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, and ordered them to kidnap Hanifa. The suspects led a combined team of DSS Operatives and Kano State Police Command’s Medical Team to the scene. The body was exhumed and taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano, where it was examined and subsequently released to the relatives for burial, according to Islamic Rites. He added that case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned a bridge in Kaduna in an area where he was almost killed by Boko Haram terrorists. The President, at the time an aspirant, was caught in an explosion at the busy Kawu market area. Although he escaped unhurt, his vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and another one behind it were badly damaged, reports at the time said. During the commissioning of the Kawu Bridge on Thursday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai recalled the incident. “It is my great honour and privilege, Mr President, to bring you to the Kawu Flyover. Mr President will recall this bridge very well because it was just under this bridge that Boko Haram tried to kill you,” the governor said at the event. “By the grace of God, you are still alive, you are with us and God preserved you so that you will lead us and inspire us to do some of what we are doing.” While responding, Buhari, who is on a two-day visit to the northwest state to commission some projects, thanked God for sparing his life. President Buhari said his government is committed to handing over a better country. Photo: Twitter@GovernorKaduna He recalled how the terrorists “wanted to blow me but my escort somehow stopped them”. “I have lived in Kaduna for many years; I am very much aware of this route. I would not recall how much I crossed it and you told me how there was an attempt on my life on this route,” Buhari added. Aside from the commissioning, Buhari also visited the palace of Alhaji Muhammadu Isa 11, the Emir of Jama’a, where he reiterated his commitment to tackling insecurity. According to him, his government has made tremendous strides in fighting insecurity in the northeast. “If Nigerians want to be fair to this administration, they should find out on what we campaigned for in 2015 and 2019. The security situation then, where we are now, and what we hope to hand over in 2023. “If you want an honest report, try and ask people from the northeast, especially from Borno State,” he said. Buhari noted that he hopes “to hand over a better Nigeria than the one we inherited”.

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration is determined to hand over a better Nigeria than the one they inherited and urged… President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration is determined to hand over a better Nigeria than the one they inherited and urged people to be fair in their assessment of what his government has achieved so far. Buhari specifically asked Nigerians to assess him on the campaign promises he made ahead of the 2015 elections. He made this statement during his visit to Kaduna for a two-day working visit to commission projects in Kafanchan, Kaduna and Zaria. Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa II, in Kafanchan, the President underlined his resolve to consolidate the country’s political system to improve the quality of people’s lives. He spoke of the use of the police and the military in dealing with security situations but urged Nigerians to develop confidence in civil authority to build a system “free of chaos.” “Nobody should be allowed to raise an army of thugs to force himself on the people. This must be very clear,” the President warned emphatically. Earlier, Governor Nasir El-Rufai acknowledged the President’s investments in the security of the area, noting in particular that the establishment of security outfits had paved the way for reduced attacks on people. He stated that Kafanchan has become much safer than it used to be. Also speaking, the Emir of Jema’a requested a permanent base for the Air Force and the Mobile Police, as well as the restoration of the rail services for which Kafanchan was known.