Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of eight suspects for alleged abduction and gruesome killing of a six-year-old boy, Muhammad Ibrahim Bulama, a resident of Bura-Bunga village via Bajude, Gombe State, for money-making ritual purposes.
The suspects, members of an 8-man syndicate regarded as deadly ritualists, have been arrested over alleged acts of conspiracy, abduction, and culpable homicide of the six-year-old boy, reports Nigerian Tribune.
The arrested suspects are: Magaji Adamu (Wazam), 45 years, Babayo Musa, 18 years, all of Bura-Bunga village via Bojude; Jibrin Muhammad (Alias Ya’Haji), 40 years, of London Maidoruwa Quarters, Gombe; Usman Abubakar Khalla, 37 years, of Tapi village; Sadam Umaru, 28 years, of Tudun Wada Quarters, Gombe; Idris Dayyabu, 45 years, of Kwami LGA, Gombe; Abdulrauf Hussaini, 33 years, of Kwami village; and Isiyaku Muhammad, 39 years, of Diri village via Bojude.
They have confessed to committance of the heinous act for money-making purpose (money ritual).
The disclosure was made by the Command PPRO, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, in a statement he signed and issued to journalists in Gombe today.
According to the PPRO, “Sometime in mid-February 2025, the grandfather of the deceased discovered that the boy had not slept in the house. His absence sparked immediate concern and a search commenced.”
He added that, “Sadly, the whereabouts of the child remained unknown not until on the 18th April 2025 at about 1100hrs, when a formal complaint was lodged by one Ibrahim Bulama, grandfather of the deceased, at Bajude Divisional Police Headquarters. Two suspects were arrested thereafter transferred to Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation.”
Buhari Abdullahi added that, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad swung into action and successfully arrested additional six suspects in connection with the heinous crime.”
The PPRO added that preliminary investigation revealed that Magaji Adamu confessed to have received the victim from Babayo Musa and slaughtered him with a knife in the bush area of Wuro-Doya.
He further divided the body into two equal parts and dumped the upper half (from waist upwards) into a well. Thereafter, handed over the other half (from waist downward) to Jibrin Muh’d and Usman Abubakar.
Also, Babayo Musa confessed to abducting the victim at his grandfather’s house at about 1730hrs and aided in the killing at Bura-Bunga village together with Magaji Adamu.
Further, Jibrin Muhammad (Ya’Haji) and Usman Abubakar were arrested in Gombe town at London Mai Doruwa and they confessed to have collected the lower part of the victim’s body together from Magaji Adamu and an accomplice identified as Gimba, who is currently at large.
On his part, Sadam Umaru played a conspiratorial role by providing information on how to locate a native doctor and facilitated the procurement of human parts.
Idris Dayyabu and Abdulrauf Hussaini are the native doctors and they confessed to have asked for human parts to aid them in performing the ritual and took possession of the victim’s remains, removed flesh from the lower body, and buried the rest.
Isiyaku Muhammad was arrested for criminal conspiracy and concealment, having had full knowledge of the crime but failed to report it until he was implicated in the investigation.
The PPRO stated that it is important to note that the said Gimba who is now at large is the unwed father of the victim and the mastermind of the killing of the six-year-old boy for money-making ritual.
The Command assured the public that thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure that all those involved in the gruesome act, including those still at large, were brought to justice.
The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Bello Yahaya, urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that can aid in combating criminal activities across the state.
