The Kano State Police Command has arrested two suspects, Abdulmalik Mohammed and Hashim Isyaku, over the abduction and killing of a five-year-old girl, Hanifa Abubakar.

Abubakar was buried in a shallow grave and her remains was discovered at private school premises in Kwanar ‘Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State by the police.

The suspects, Abdulmalik Mohammed and Hashim Isyaku had abducted Hanifa on December 2, 2021, and took the victim to a hideout where they contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of six million naira.

Abdulmalik Mohammed was Hanifa’s private teacher and having realized that the victim recognized them, the suspects poisoned her to death, butchered her remains and buried it in a shallow grave.

Police spokesman in the state, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday.

“In Dec. 4, 2021, at about 20:30 hours, a report was received from a resident of Dakata Quarters, Nassarawa, Kano State, that one Hanifa Abubakar, 5, was kidnapped and a ransom of N6 million was demanded,” he said.

Haruna-Kiyawa said that the CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu-Dikko, met with heads of security agencies in the state, re-strategised, and raised a team of Operation Puff Adder led by SP Shehu Dahiru to arrest the culprits.

“Sustained efforts and prolonged follow up led to the arrest of Abdulmalik Mohammed-Tanko, 30, and Hashim Isyaku, 37, all of Tudun Murtala quarters, by a detective team of the Department of State Service (DSS).

“During investigation, Mohammed-Tanko confessed that the victim, Hanifa was his student at a private school in Kwanar Dakata, Nassarawa, Kano State.

“He kidnapped her and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million.

“On Dec. 18, 2021, having realized that the victim recognized him, he claimed to have poisoned her to death.

“He conspired with Hashim Isyaku, and buried her in a grave located at the private school premises at Kwanar ‘Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala,” he said.

He further added that Isyaku also confessed that, in November, 2021, the principal suspect and one Fatima Musa, 27, met and ordered him to kidnap the girl.

“They arranged for the kidnapping, but later rescinded the action. Fatima was also arrested in connection with the offence,” he said.

The PPRO revealed that the suspects led a combined team of DSS operatives, police command’s medical team and Operation Puff Adder to the grave.

“The body was exhumed and taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialists Hospital, Kano, where it was examined and later released to the relatives for burial according to Islamic rites,” he said

He said that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have created #JusticeForHanifa currently trending across social media to demand for justice.

See some reactions on Twitter below;

Just watched this confession of Hanifa Abubakar’s killer, the 5-year-old abducted and killed in Kano. The mastermind was her schoolteacher, this 34-year-old Abdulmalik Tanko, who had to feed her rat poison, and then had her mutilated and buried, on realizing she’d recognize him. pic.twitter.com/k2VYAJ3upd

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) January 20, 2022

Hanifa Abubakar,5 year old Kano pupil,kidnapped and killed by her school teacher after collecting ransom.Such a monster must pay the supreme price for such an unspeakable and horrible evil. pic.twitter.com/Ed6pweekE9

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) January 20, 2022

Condemning in the most strongest term, the extreme cruel act on innocent Hanifa, a 5-year-old student, who was kidnapped and later killed by her teacher. Relieving to find out that in Kano, convicted kidnappers who kill their victims will be put to death, a bill adapted in 2016.

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) January 20, 2022

Hanifa was abducted and killed by her Teacher in Kano State. #JusticeForHanifa. ? pic.twitter.com/gQtpA5hY1k

— My Deen My Swag ? (@AM_Saleeem) January 20, 2022

5-year-old Hanifa was allegedly kidnapped & killed in Kano by her private school teacher. The accused has confessed to abducting her & demanding N6m. When she recognised him, he poisoned her & buried her in a shallow grave. He led police to the grave where her body was recovered. pic.twitter.com/8ROlrnHf2S

— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) January 20, 2022

These are the killers of the innocent 5yrs old Hanifa. The Kano Anti-Kidnapping Law states that anyone that kidnaps someone & the victim dies in the process death penalty is the punishment for the kidnapper. Retweet till we get #JusticeForHanifa? pic.twitter.com/g2S5NsmaX8

— My Deen My Swag ? (@AM_Saleeem) January 20, 2022

Little Hanifa was abducted in Kano. Her abductors demanded and collected N6million from her family to release her, and still went ahead and killed her, decapitated her body. What exactly is the sins of Hanifa, an innocent baby in Kano? Kano, oh Kano, where is thy heart!? pic.twitter.com/nrqTfsEjDq

— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) January 20, 2022

5-year-old Hanifa was allegedly kidnapped & killed in Kano by her private school teacher. The accused has confessed to abducting her & demanding N6m. When she recognised him, he poisoned her & buried her in a shallow grave. He led police to the grave where her body was recovered. pic.twitter.com/gD2u3FtMDI

— Arewa Cycle (@arewacycle) January 20, 2022