How boy, 11, shot friend dead in Kano – I forgive him – Victim’s dad

Soon as they poked into the heap of waste, the boys made startling discoveries. Confused by the strange sight in the garbage, the minors circled around Isyaku, who took one of the guns. “They look like guns,” Isyaku said as he took full grip of one. The other was held by Abba. Inquisitive Idris attempted […]

Soon as they poked into the heap of waste, the boys made startling discoveries. Confused by the strange sight in the garbage, the minors circled around Isyaku, who took one of the guns. “They look like guns,” Isyaku said as he took full grip of one. The other was held by Abba. Inquisitive Idris attempted to operate it by aiming at each of his friends until he lastly shot Abubakar on the head. One of the boys who witnessed the incident revealed that the suspect aimed at each of them before the gun went off. “He attempted the gun on  Umar, Ali, Ibrahim and I,” he said.

Wearing a pair of worn slippers and a weather-beaten shirt, Isyaku sobbed uncontrollably throughout the time this reporter had a chat with him. The suspect admitted unintentionally killing his friend, saying the deceased was his bosom friend who he would not hurt. “He was my friend, we were very close. I never knew the gun would go off. I was only playing with it,” he sobbed. “When he fell down and I saw blood on his head, I began to cry,” Idris said.

Father of the dead boy, Malam Abdulsalam Ibrahim, said his wife sent the boys to scavenge for dried stems and straws in the garbage for her to set fire and prepare lunch. “There was no Qur’anic school on Friday, so my wife usually sends them when school is out.” He said he knew the suspect recently and the suspect’s parents live not far from his house.

“When I saw my son mingling together with the boy, I asked my son whether he trusts him or not, he said the boy was his friend, so I let them be.” Malam Abdulsalam however expressed belief that Isyaku did not shoot his son intentionally.

Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of Kano Police Command, SP Baba Mohammed Azare, said the guns might have been stashed in the garbage by armed robbers. While disclosing the command’s resolve to trace the owner of the gun, the police spokesman noted that the incident was traumatic and gives cause for alarm to the residents of the area. He therefore said despite the fact that the father of the victim had forgiven the killer, the police would still detain the minor and continue with their investigation.