Bauchi ---------- The Police in Bauchi State have arrested a 12-year-old boy for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old child.
This was contained in a statement weekend  by the state police Spokesman, Superintendent Ahmad Wakil.
Wakil stated that the 12-year-old kidnapped the baby in Magama Gumau community in Toro Local Government Area of the state, adding that the suspect lured the victim into an isolated area and placed a telephone call to her father demanding N150,000 as ransom for the captive’s release.
“A discreet investigation revealed that the suspect lured the victim to an isolated place near a football field at Kara Area of Magama Gumau and called the victim’s father on phone and made the demand.
“On hearing the demand, the victim’s father hung up and refused to take subsequent calls.
“After a while, the victim’s father called the suspect and identified him through his familiar voice.
“He called his name, but the suspect kept mute, hung up, swiftly took the girl to her parent’s house where he told the family that he sighted her crying near a football field,’’ SP Wakil stated.
He added that the victim’s family immediately reported the suspect to the police for necessary action.
Wakil further stated that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and said he would have used the ransom money to buy clothes and phones.
“Investigation also showed that the suspect got to know about kidnapping for ransom when some time ago, his friend was kidnapped in Kano State.
“Those who kidnapped his friend were paid ransom before he was released and that was how the suspect learned that money must be paid to set a kidnap victim free,’’ he stated.
Meanwhile, Wakil has noted that the state Police Commissioner, Aminu Alhassan, has asked parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance over their wards and children to avoid ugly incidents such as the kidnap of a toddler by a 12- year boy.