5 children missing in Abuja in 4 months

Five children have been reported missing in circumstances believed to be abductions in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs. Aso Chronicle investigations have revealed that three children aged between four and five were reported missing by their parents between May 17 and August 15 in Kurudu, Abuja. The two others, aged […]

Five children have been reported missing in circumstances believed to be abductions in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs.

Aso Chronicle investigations have revealed that three children aged between four and five were reported missing by their parents between May 17 and August 15 in Kurudu, Abuja.

The two others, aged two and five, were allegedly abducted on September 6 and 21, 2017 at Masaka, near Abuja and Karu, Abuja, respectively. 

Mrs Lucy Gaius, mother of the two year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped in Masaka, said her daughter Namkwat Joy Gauis, was going to her cousin’s house with her elder sibling, a five year-old girl, at Angwan Soja, when an unknown woman gave the eldest girl money to go and buy biscuits.

She explained that when she came back the woman had disappeared with Joy.

Mrs Gaius said she had reported the incident at the Masaka police division but up till now she has not heard any positive news about her daughter’s abduction.

In Karu, father of five-year-old Hauwa’u Suleiman said he closed from work on September 21, 2017 only to find that his daughter was not at home and has not seen her till date.

Malam Suleiman Halliru, who lives in Angwan Hausawa, Karu, said when he returned from his business centre in Karu Market around 6:20 pm, he did not see his daughter at home.

“I did not see her come to welcome me as she always did so I was curious. I asked her mother but she said the girl finished eating dinner a only while ago and went outside. 

“I quickly rushed out to call her but I didn’t see her. Since then I have been searching for her but nobody has seen her. This is a big surprise for me,” he said.

He explained further that he has reported the case to Karu, Jikwoyi and Nyanya divisional police stations.  

For Malam Al-Amin Aliyu, from Kafanchan in Kaduna State, he never expected that his 17 years stay in Kurudu would turn into a nightmare. He said his four-year-old son, Idris, got missing on Friday May 17, 2017, around 12:30pm.

He said while leaving for his photo and video studio on the same day, his son was playing in front of the house.  

“On  my way to my business centre I even talked to him, not knowing that was going to be the last I will see him. Up till now we don’t know his whereabouts,” he said.

Al-Amin said he has reported the case to the police outpost in Kurudu, Ajhata, Kpeygyi, and at the two divisional police stations in Jikwoyi and Karu but has not heard any news about his son yet.

“The data of my missing child and my contact has been with the police since then, and they promised to call me whenever they have information but up till now I have not heard from them,” he said.

Another father whose child is also missing said his four-year-old son, Muazu, got missing on August 15, 2015 at Kurudu.

Malam Kabiru Aliyu, a poultry farmer said he left for Karu market in the morning after he observed his prayers only to return in the evening to discover that his son was not at home. 

“I normally close 6:00 in the evening, so on my way back home my younger brother called me around 6:32pm and informed me that since around 2:00pm my son, Muazu, was not at home. I immediately reported to the chief of Kurudu and also to Kurudu police outpost. I gave his photograph to them and my contact but up till this time there is no information about him,” he said.

On the same day, our investigations showed that another five-year-old girl was also allegedly abducted while she was sent to buy soup ingredients at a nearby shop.

Malam Shu’aibu  Musa, a native of Gwale in Kano State explained how his 5-year-old child, Maryam Shu’aibu, was abducted. “On August 15, the same day that my neighbour lost his child, Muazu, I also didn’t see Maryam. She was sent to a nearby shop to buy ingredients but she did not return,” he said.

“I have reported the case to the police and I am hoping that my child will be found. With what is happening; I don’t know if our lives here are safe, now they are kidnapping children, this may extend to adults if the security agencies fail to stop them,” he said.

The Sarkin Kurudu, Alhaji Haliru Bako, who also spoke with Aso Chronicle, said he has received reports of the missing children.

The chief called for vigilance as the incidents were increasing. He urged the police to post more officers and men to the area, saying the area was poorly policed due to lack of personnel. 

He also urged residents of Kurudu to help the security operatives by supplying useful information to aid in combating crime. 

The Nasarawa State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Idirisu J. Kennedy, told Aso Chronicle on phone that he “was not in the picture of what has happened.” He promised to get in touch with the DPO of Masaka and get back to our reporter but he never did. 

However, a source at the Masaka police division confirmed the abduction, saying the station got a report of the alleged abduction. 

The FCT police command spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, could not reply to a text message sent to his phone requesting for confirmation of the incidents. Though he had earlier, in a telephone conversation with our reporter, said the command was not aware if children were missing.