Rabiu Safiyanu, a 20-year-old suspect in the alleged kidnapping and killing of Yunusa Salisu, a four-year-old boy, has been taken into custody by the Bauchi State Police Command.
In a statement released on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, revealed that the suspect was apprehended by detectives stationed at the “C” Divisional Headquarters in Bauchi after a missing child was reported.
The victim’s father, Salisu Yunusa, a resident of Nasarawa Madina Quarters, reported the case on March 21, 2026, claiming his son had gone missing on March 18.
The father also told police that on March 19, he received a ransom demand of N500,000 from an unidentified caller. Despite paying N100,000, the child was not freed.
“Investigation into the matter led to the arrest of one Rabiu Safiyanu, 20, of the same address, a friend of the complainant’s younger brother, who had unrestricted access to the house,” the statement read.
According to Habib, the suspect admitted during questioning that he had kidnapped the child, strangled him, and buried his body in a shallow grave at Warinje Hills before demanding more ransom.
The victim’s deteriorating body with obvious evidence of strangling was later found at the scene, according to the police. Additionally, a rope that may have been used in the crime was discovered at the scene.
He continued by saying that the child’s death was confirmed by the Officer in Charge of the Police Clinic, following which the body was documented and released to the family for burial at the location due to public health concerns.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case for additional investigation and prosecution.
The command advised residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The development comes less than four days after the command announced the arrest of four siblings in connection with the alleged killing of a security guard at a farm in Jama’are Local Government Area.
According to reports, the incident happened early on March 15, 2026, when hunters reported that three private guards at Idris Waziri Kwamawa’s farm had been attacked.
