Kano police begins investigation after angry mob lynched Almajiri who beheaded 6-year-old boy

The Kano State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the disturbing incident involving the beheading of a six-year-old boy, Mohammed Saidu, allegedly by a 16-year-old Almajiri identified as Abdullahi, who was subsequently lynched by a mob in Kanwa village, Madobi local government area of the state. 

 

The State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Usaini Gumel, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the suspect, Abdullahi, a native of Zamfara State, was apprehended in Kanwa village by a concerned citizen while in possession of a blood-stained knife allegedly used for the crime.

 

CP Gumel revealed that when policemen arrived, the suspect confessed to the crime, disclosing that he disposed off the victim’s head in a pit toilet adjacent to the primary school. 

 

An angry mob consequently descended on the suspect to lynch him. Abdullahi was rescued and rushed to Kwankwaso Cottage Hospital for medical attention, but he passed away while undergoing treatment. 

 

It was gathered that Abdullahi migrated to the village in 2021 and left the vicinity four months ago before his sudden return to allegedly perpetrate his heinous act.

 

The Village Head, Umar Maitama Yusuf, confirmed the incident occurred around 9 am on Thursday, April 11, 2024. 

 

According to him, the suspect had once worked as a houseboy for parents of the victims but was eventually sacked over alleged stealing.

 

“Abdullahi was brought to Kanwa over two years ago by one Islamic Scholar, Mallam Abdulrauf from Katsina. He stayed here for two years and left four months ago,” the village head said. 

“He returned to the village during this festive period, claiming that he came for a condolence because we lost one old woman three days ago. It was during his visit that he lured Nabiyu to a toilet of a nearest primary school where he beheaded him and slashed his stomach.”

 

The village head further stated that nemesis caught up with the suspect when he was caught by a small boy shortly after he hid the head of the victim inside a soakaway and the minor raised the alarm.

 

Yusuf, however, hinted that the suspect was initially rescued from the mob and kept inside his palace before the arrival of the police for onward investigation but the mob forced their way into the palace and lynched him.

“The mob was about 10, 000 because many of them came to the village for Sallah. They overpowered the police and men of the vigilante group at the palace,” he said. 

 

“They even damaged some parts of the palace building in their attempt to kill the suspect. Some of them located the room where the suspect was kept and climbed the rooftop when they could not open the door.

 

“They eventually had their way and entered the room where Abdullahi was kept and killed him there because they feel he might be freed later if they hand him over to the police.” 

 

According to the village head, the corpse of the victim was taken to a cottage in the village where he was confirmed dead and later released for burial according to Islamic rites.

 

“The victim will soon be buried this evening,” he said, adding that the corpse of the suspect has been deposited inside a mortuary of the Murtala Muhammed Hospital for further investigation,” he added. 

 

Photo: Villagers at the scene of the incident