By Augustine Ehikioya
For allegedly removing the right eyeball of a 12 years old boy for ritual purposes, Police officials in Kano State have arrested a principal suspect, Isah Hassan.
According to Kano State Police Command diary issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), the arrest was made following report from a resident of the area.
It said “On the 20/03/2022 at about 1500hrs, a report was received from a resident of Sheka Dantsinke Quarters, Kumbotso LGA Kano, that an unknown person took one Mustapha Yunusa, ‘m’, 12 years old to Rimin Hamza Quarters, Tarauni Local Government Area, Kano State, used a sharp knife and removed his right eyeball and fled with it to an unknown destination.
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi raised and instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Alfa N. Muhammad, Divisional Police Officer, Sheka Division to proceed to the scene.
“The team immediately went to the scene and rushed the victim to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where a Medical Doctor confirmed that the eyeball of the victim was forcefully removed using a sharp object, and the victim was admitted to the said Hospital.
“Sustained efforts coupled with prolonged intelligence follow-up led to the arrest of the principal suspect, one Isah Hassan, ‘m’, aged 17 years old, of Dantsinke layin Rimin Hamza Quarters, Tarauni LGA, Kano State, with the help of local Vigilante of Sheka Quarters on the 29/03/2022 at about 0100hrs.”
On how the crime was committed, it said “On investigation, the suspect confessed that he met his friend, Sani Abdulrahman, ‘m’, 16 years old, and asked him where he can get a charm that will make him be disappearing whenever he want. Sani directed him to his aged grandmother of 100 years old (as she claimed), one Furera Abubakar, ‘f’, of the same address.
“The principal suspect further confessed that he met Furera, and she instructed him to bring an eyeball of a human being to her so that he can prepare the charm for him.
“He went and deceived one street beggar (Almajiri), the victim, lured him to a nearby bush tied his hands and forcefully used a sharp knife and plucked his right eyeball. He took the eyeball to Furera and she told him to bring Five Hundred Naira (N500.00). As he did not have the money, Furera told him to keep it in a safer place and bring it when he get the money.
“He kept it for three days, later he discovered that the eyeball has decayed, and he then threw it away. Furera was subsequently arrested.”
The Commissioner of Police, it said, has ordered the case to be transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
‘The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,’ it added.
The CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, also warned that criminals will have no hiding place in Kano State.
“They are advised to either repent or leave the State completely, as no stone will be left unturned. Otherwise, they will be arrested and face the full wrath of the Law.
“He thanked the Kano State Government, the good people of the State, other security agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Community Policing Stakeholders for their prayers, encouragement, continuous support, and cooperation.
“He urged residents to pray for the State, the Nation 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.”
“In case of emergencies, the Command can be contacted via; 08032419754, 08123821575, 08076091271, 09029292926, or log into the “NPF Rescue Me”