The Gombe State Police Command has announced the arrest of eight men in connection with the abduction and brutal murder of six-year-old Muhammad Bulama in Bura-Bunga village, Bajude district of Kwami Local Government Area.
The suspects, apprehended following a detailed investigation, reportedly confessed to carrying out the horrific act for ritual and money-making purposes.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Buhari Abdullahi, those arrested include:
- Magaji Adamu (alias Wazam), 45, of Bura-Bunga village
- Babayo Musa, 18, of Bura-Bunga village
- Jibrin Muhammad (alias Ya’Haji), 40, of London Maidoruwa Quarters, Gombe
- Usman Abubakar Khalla, 37, of Tapi village
- Sadam Umaru, 28, of Tudun Wada Quarters, Gombe
- Idris Dayyabu, 45, of Kwami LGA
- Abdulrauf Hussaini, 33, of Kwami village
- Isiyaku Muhammad, 39, of Diri village
Police investigations revealed that the suspects carefully planned the boy’s abduction and murder.
“Magaji Adamu confessed to receiving the victim from Babayo Musa and slaughtering him in the bush at Wuro-Doya. He then split the body into two parts and dumped the upper half in a well,” DSP Abdullahi said.
It was also revealed that Babayo Musa abducted the child from his grandfather’s house around 5:30pm and assisted in the killing.
Jibrin Muhammad and Usman Abubakar, arrested in Gombe town, confessed to receiving the lower half of the boy’s body from Magaji Adamu and an accomplice named Gimba, who is currently at large.
Sadam Umaru was found to have aided the crime by directing the group to a native doctor and helping in the procurement of human parts.
Native doctors Idris Dayyabu and Abdulrauf Hussaini admitted to requesting human remains for ritual purposes. They reportedly removed flesh from the lower body and buried the rest.
Isiyaku Muhammad was arrested for criminal conspiracy and concealment of information, having known of the crime but failed to report it until he was implicated.
The police named Gimba, the victim’s unwed father, as the alleged mastermind of the crime. He remains at large.
Authorities have urged the public to remain alert and continue cooperating with security agencies to curb criminal activity across the state.