By Sahid Umar
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ganye Chapter, Adamawa State, has written a damning report on the gruesome kidnap and murder of six-year-old Ebuka Edwin, the son of Mr. Edwin Eze, a businessman, resident in Ganye, Ganye Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
The Association raised alarm by narrating what really transpired in Ganye as regards the kidnap and murder of Ebuka before it expressed its dissatisfaction and dismay with a skewed report that tried to distort what actually happened.
In its report, CAN noted that, the six-year-old Ebuka Edwin was “kidnapped by students of Markas Sheik Dahiru Aliyu Arabic and Islamic School, Tudun Wada, Ganye Local Government Area.
“The kidnappers are almajiri students of the above mentioned school who entered the house of Bro. Edwin well-armed with an AK 47 rifle at about 1 am on 2nd May, 2024.” The report stated
The kidnappers were four in number, two were outside while two entered the house where they threatened Bro. Edwin Eze and kidnapped his son, late Ebuka Edwin to an unknown destination.
They later called the father to pay a ransom of ten million Naira (N10 million) for the release of his son. Mr. Edwin Eze told them he has no such money.
They later demanded for the sum of one hundred and fifty-two thousand Naira (N152, 000) for the feeding of his son which he paid through a POS account given to him by the kidnappers.
The CAN report says the Ganye Divisional Police Officers swung into action immediately they received the report of the kidnap incident and succeeded in arresting the kidnappers on May 9th, 2024. The kidnappers, in their confessional statement, said they killed their victim, master Ebuka Edwin, on the same day they kidnapped him and buried him behind their school. They took the Police to the shallow grave where they buried him and the body of the deceased was exhumed by the murderers under the supervision of the Police.
The CAN report then expressed deep appreciation to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ganye, for his passionate efforts in urgently investigating and arresting the kidnappers.
The CAN, however, expressed dismay over the report of the Police Public Relations Officer of Adamawa Police Command dated 10th May, 2024, where the report stated that “the kidnapper took their victim (Ebuka Edwin) to a forest between Nigeria and Cameroun border and buried him.” The truth of the matter is that they buried him right behind their school (Markas Sheik Dahiru Aliyu Arabic and Islamic School, Tudun Wada, Ganye, Ganye Local Government of Adamawa State, not up to 500 metres from their victim’s house).
The kidnapping and murdering of a six-year-old Igbo boy in Ganye by almajiris from an Arabic and Islamic School is mind-boggling, alarming and a signal for worst things to come when precautionary measures are not adopted by both the Fintiri administration and the Federal Government. Even without security background or knowledge, it is difficult to imagine how almajiris could suddenly wake up one day, procure AK 47 rifle and embark on kidnapping and murdering their victim without prior knowledge or experience. Discerning citizens would begin to wonder how many dangerous weapons are in their arsenal? Again, people would wonder how many students of this school are kidnappers and killers who have been disguising or hiding their criminal activities and parading themselves as students? One may also begin to wonder whether this is their first kidnap and killing case or it has been their preoccupation for a long time only that they escaped the wrath of the law until now when they were caught?
Should an Arabic and Islamic School that shields or breeds kidnappers and killers be allowed to continue to operate? Shouldn’t the institution be closed and the operators brought to justice for hiding kidnappers, hardened criminals and killers? What information do security agents have on the proprietors, managers and teachers? Are they people of impeccable character or criminals disguising as religious leaders, especially now that their seemingly religious school has been exposed as a den of kidnappers and killers? These are pertinent questions that should be addressed by security agents in Adamawa State.
The pervasive insecurity in Nigeria calls for drastic action to address the menace of kidnapping and killings in the country. What happened in Ganye on May 2nd, 2024, with almajiris from Markas Sheik Dahiru Aliyu Arabic and Islamic School kidnapping and killing a six-year-old Igbo boy is unacceptable, unwarranted and unpardonable.
The State Police Command, the State Directorate of State Security Services and other security agencies should thoroughly investigate and get to the roots of what really transpired in Ganye and led to the sudden termination of the life of Master Ebuka Edwin. No stone should therefore be left unturned in the effort to get justice for the deceased and his bereaved parents (Sahid Umar)
Kai Kai Kai this is bad, really the government should find out the root, I recommend closure of the school and investigate the students one by one and also the teachers and then the owner. Something is fishy .