President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed the nation’s condolences to the family of the five-year-old school girl Hanifa Abubakar whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Kano after near two months of fruitless search.
The President in the same breath has praised the work of the police and the secret service in unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of Hanifa, and particularly for the arrest of her teacher and his other accomplices suspected of the child’s kidnap and murder.
President Buhari said the family and the whole nation which followed up on Hanifa’s travail every day since her disappearance in December last year were hoping for the girl to have been rescued alive and well, adding however that the very thorough and painstaking detective operation by the law enforcement bodies, leading to the discovery of the corpse and the arrest of the suspects who have already made confessions was commendable, calling it an achievement that should instill more public confidence in the authorities.
“When breakthroughs like this happen, people will talk differently of law enforcement,” said the President.
President Buhari prayed for the repose of the soul of the little school girl and urged her parents to bear the sad loss with courage and fortitude in God.
The President urged the Police and Ministry of Justice to uphold the integrity of the detective work that busted the case by preparing well and presenting a good case that will earn the respect of the court.
Meanwhile, Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured that government would continue to meticulously monitor and ensure the prosecution of anyone found culpable in the kidnap and murder of Hanifa Abubakar, an innocent five-year-old pupil at Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa local government area of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the the state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba.
The governor said already measures taken in the matter include the indifinite closure and withdrawal of the operational license of the school where the child was allegedly said to have been gruesomely murdered.
He said government is terribly disturbed that people entrusted with the care of children only turn out to be their murderers.
Ganduje added that government has been in touch with the family of the child and would remain so until justice prevail in the case to serve as deterrent to others.
The governor, who commended security agencies in the state for the prompt action that led to the arrest of those allegedly involved, stated that while investigation is ongoing, government will meticulously follow the case to its logical conclusion.
He also commended the international community, human rights-based organizations and well-meaning Nigerians for their concern in the matter.
Ganduje also assured security agencies of government’s support in carrying out their duties of ensuring that Kano maintains its relative peace.
