By Danladi Usman
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has visited the family of Hanifa Abubakar, a five-year-old pupil gruesomely killed after she was abducted in her school in Kano.
Osinbajo, on Tuesday, visited Hanifa’s family in their Kano home, and condoling with her parents, promised justice, as Hanifa’s killers have already been arrested and charged to court.
The Vice President, was in Kano to attend the 53rd Annual Nigerian Association of Law Teachers Conference, as a Special Guest of Honour, but stopped over at the family house of Hanifa, to condole with her parents.
Recalled the late Hanifa declared missing last December was later found to have been kidnapped and the search team eventually discovered her body buried in her school premises.
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Investigation further revealed that Hanifa was abducted by her school proprietor, one Abdulmalik Tanko, who though demanded ransom from her parents, it was found out that he later killed December last year.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, Haruna Kiyawa, Tanko, had confessed that he kidnapped Hanifa and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million.
Consequent upon his arrest, Tanko and his arraignment alongside two others at the State High Court, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had vowed to sign the death sentence without further delay if given by the court.
Until her death, Hanifa was a five-year-old pupil of Noble Kids Comprehensive College – a school located in Kwanar ‘Yan Gana in Tudun Murtala Quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state.
Ganduje, who had earlier visited Hanifa’s family on January 24, 2022, speaks her parents on January 24, 2022, promised to sign the court judgement once the suspect is sentenced according to the crime he was accused of.
The Governor, thereby apologised to the Hanifa’s parents and the people of Kano, saying, there was no use for such persons to continue to live in the society.
“This kind of incidence is truly unprecedented. I pray that God will give Hanifa’s parents the fortitude to bear this heavy loss. The power to give and take life belongs to him alone,” Ganduje said.
“I wouldn’t want to pre-empt the court, but as a government, we are working towards ensuring justice and fairness in Hanifa’s case. This is indeed very paramount to us.
“The Nigerian constitution reserves the death penalty for anyone found guilty of murder. At the end of the case, a warrant is sent to the state governor to give consent for execution to take place. I assure you that, once the sentence is passed on the murderer, I will not waste a minute to append my signature on the warrant authorising his execution.”
“The judiciary has assured us that Hanifa’s case will be given accelerated hearing.
“We have also set up a committee to look into the activities of private schools in Kano State and advice accordingly.
“To Hanifa’s parents, we share in your grief, there is nothing someone can do to fill in the vacuum left by her demise but we have a token for you to alleviate your pains.
“We will continue to pray for the repose of her gentle soul,” Ganduje said.
