Suspected ritualist arrested for cutting off minor’s private parts

A 20-year-old man in Bauchi State has been arrested by the police for allegedly cutting off the private parts of a six-year-old child for ritual purposes.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

He said when the police received the complaint by the aunt of the victim, they swung into action and arrested the suspect while his accomplice was still at large.

Wakil added that when the police rushed the victim to the hospital, a medical doctor confirmed that her private parts had been tampered with.

He said, “On December 30, 2020 around 7.20pm, one Hafsatu Wada of Zango area of Jama’are Local Government Area reported at the Jama’are Police Station that her niece, Safarau Mohammed (not real name), six, of the same address was found crying in a pool of blood.

“Upon the receipt of the complaint, a patrol team led by the DPO of the Jama’are Division visited the scene and rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Jama’are. There, a medical doctor confirmed that her private parts had been cut off with a sharp object. The victim was immediately referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare for more medical response.”

 The PPRO said investigation led to the arrest of one Adamu Ra’uf, 20, of Gandu Jama’are, adding that on interrogation, the suspect confessed to have conspired with one Abdulkadir Haladu of Chikamidari area of Jama’are to perpetrate the crime.

He added, “Abdulkadir is currently at large but necessary measures are being put in place for his immediate arrest. Meanwhile, investigation is still ongoing.”

According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.

Similarly, Wakil stated that four teenagers were arrested for being in possession of weapons and armed robbery.

He added that the suspects allegedly belonged to a cult group called “Bager.”

He said that the gang leader, one Idris Yakubu, 18, was first arrested for armed robbery while his members were later arrested at a hotel in the metropolis.

According to him, useful information given by Yakubu led to the arrest of his other gang members namely: Umar Abdullahi, Hassan Lawal, 18 and Sadik Illyas, 18, of Katako, Jos, Plateau State. (The Punch)