Police Arrest Two Cousins Over Killing of Nine-Year-Old in Bauchi

By: Sunday Ameh

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two young men, Yahaya Zubairu and Babangida Muhammad, both aged 20, over the alleged abduction and killing of a nine-year-old boy, Barhama Abubakar.

The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the suspects are relatives of the deceased and lived in the same compound with him prior to the incident.

According to the police, the victim was declared missing on March 21, 2026, after which his abductors allegedly demanded a ransom of N1 million from his family.

Habib said swift police action led to the arrest of the suspects, while the boy’s remains were later recovered.
Medical examinations, he added, confirmed the child’s death.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly planned the crime and restrained the victim, leading to his death.

The police further disclosed that one of the suspects, identified as a cousin of the deceased, reportedly lured the boy under the pretext of running an errand to a nearby primary school, where he was subsequently abducted.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming they targeted the victim based on the belief that his father was wealthy.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities within their communities.

He added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, calling on members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the re-arrest of a suspected kidnapper who previously escaped from custody.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspect was apprehended on March 17, 2026, at about 11:30 p.m. during a stop-and-search operation by officers attached to the Ojongbodu Area Command.