The Kano State High Court has ordered two men to be held in a correctional centre over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a 14-year-old boy in the state.
Suspects Face Three-Count Charge
Justice Musa Ahmad of the Kano State High Court gave the remand order on Monday against Ismail Adamu, 22, and Isma'ail Rabiu, 24. The duo is facing a three-count charge that includes criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide, all contrary to sections of the Penal Code Law.
The defendants, however, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges read against them. The court subsequently adjourned the case to January 30, 2026, for hearing.
Gruesome Details of the Alleged Crime
Presenting the case, the prosecution counsel and Kano State Solicitor-General, Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, informed the court that the offence was committed on February 8, 2024, at Fulani Quarters in the Hotoro area of Kano.
He alleged that the principal suspect, Ismail Adamu, conspired with Isma'ail Rabiu to kidnap their victim, Abdullahi Sani, who was the son of Adamu's neighbour. After abducting the boy, the suspects reportedly contacted his father, demanding a ransom of N4 million.
"The defendants later lured the deceased into an uncompleted building at Fulani Quarters, Hotoro, and stabbed him on his neck, chest and shoulder with a sharp knife, leading to his death," Mr Muhammad-Tahir told the court.
The prosecution further stated that after killing the teenager, the suspects disposed of his body by throwing it into a soakaway pit located within the uncompleted building in Sabuwar Zara village.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The charges pressed against Adamu and Rabiu are based on Sections 97, 274, and 221 of the Penal Code Law, which deal with conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide respectively.
With the plea taken and the remand order issued, the case is now set for a full hearing on the adjourned date. The remand in a correctional centre ensures the suspects remain in custody as the legal process continues.
The tragic case has highlighted ongoing concerns about kidnapping and violent crime in the region, with the judiciary now tasked with determining the suspects' guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented.
