Grandma, teacher in police net for torture of Almajiri boy

A 24-year-old Islamic Teacher, Ma’aruf Muhammad and a 65-year-old Grandma, Talle Muhammad, are in police custody in Kano for severe torture meted out on an 8-year-old Almajiri boy, Muhammad Garba.

The Command’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna, said the boy, who is an indigene of Nguru in Yobe state was forced to escape by train from Yobe to Kano State as a result of the severe torture leading to scar on his body.

He said the boy was found roaming the street and brought to the command hence the arrest of the victim’s teacher, Grandma and later his father.

According to him, “On the 29/03/2022 at about 1400hrs, a report was received from the Managing Director, Kano State Agency for Evacuation and Repatriation of Beggars that, on the 28/03/2022, one Mallam Usaini Uba, male, of Kofar Na’isa Quarters, Kano brought to the agency, one Muhammad Garba, male, aged 8-year-old, an “Almajiri Boy,” who was found roaming around a culvert, near Kofar Mata Quarters Kano, with scar marks all over his body resulting from suspected torture.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, raised and instructed a team of detectives led by SP Umar Sa’id Abdullahi to carry out an extensive investigation. The team immediately swung into action. The victim was rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital Kano, where he was treated and discharged.

“On a Preliminary investigation, the victim stated that he hails from Nguru, Yobe State, and he escaped to Kano State by Train as a result of severe beatings by his teacher at “Almajiri School”, one Ma’aruf Muhammad.

“Sustained efforts and prolonged follow-up led to the arrest of the “Almajiri School” teacher, Ma’aruf Muhammad, 24-year-old of Garbi Quarters, Nguru LGA, Yobe State at a hideout in Toro LGA, Bauchi State.

“On discreet investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime, he further confessed that he uses a USB Cable wire to beat the victim on several occasions after removing his shirt, that the child was brought to him by the grandmother of the child, one Talle Muhammad, female, 65-year-old. She was subsequently arrested, and the father of the victim was also arrested.

“Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation. The Commissioner of Police strongly warns that criminals will have no hiding place in Kano State. They are advised to either repent or leave the State completely. He urged residents to continue to pray for the State, the Nation, especially in this holy month of Ramadan, and report incidences to the nearest Police Station, and not to take laws into their hands. Rigorous patrol, raids of criminal hideouts and black spots will continue throughout the State, as the Command will sustain the ongoing “Operation Puff Adder” that is yielding positive results,” SP Haruna however stated. (Vanguard)