‘I’m in sorrow’ Father of 5-year-old pupil, Hanifa, finally speaks, says he’ll never forget till he dies

The father of Hanifa Abubakar, Abubakar Abdulsalam, a five-year-old student in Kano who was allegedly murdered by her teacher, says he will never forget the tragedy.

The student was kidnapped in December, and her kidnappers sought a ransom of N6 million.

Abdulmalik Tanko, Abubakar’s instructor, was arrested and charged with her kidnapping and murder on Thursday in Kano.

According to the authorities, Tanko admitted to kidnapping the woman and transporting her to his home, where he phoned her relatives and demanded the ransom.

“On the 18/12/2021, having realised that the victim recognised him, he claimed to have poisoned her to death, conspired with one Hashim Isyaku, took and buried her in a shallow grave located at the private school premises located at Kwanar ‘Yan Gana, Tudun Murtala Quarters, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State,” the police said in a statement.

The body was exhumed and taken to Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano where she was confirmed dead.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, the mourning father expressed sadness over the incident.

“I’m really in sorrow for what happened. I can only thank God. This can happen to anyone and it is said that everyone who lives will die someday. So I leave everything to God. But till I die, I will never forget this. Those who did this to me have not been fair to me neither have they been fair to the world. God will fight for me,” he said in a video posted by Daily Trust.

“I am also thanking the Nigerian security forces, especially those whose efforts found my murdered daughter. May God fight for our rights. I am sincerely grateful to you. I can’t thank you enough, only God can reward you.”

Meanwhile, the Kano state government has ordered the immediate closure of Noble Kids Academy, the private school where the body of the five-year-old was buried.

The police had said the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.