Teen murders 11-yr-old ‘almajiri’ over flashlight

Specifically, Malam Rabiu Adamu, the school’s head, helped in that regard and in no time, Idris stood out from the rest almajirai. Expectedly, his skills endeared him to many and indirectly, one of them cost him his life.   Last Wednesday, like most Muslims,  Idris was close to the mosque at about 6.30pm, waiting for […]

Specifically, Malam Rabiu Adamu, the school’s head, helped in that regard and in no time, Idris stood out from the rest almajirai. Expectedly, his skills endeared him to many and indirectly, one of them cost him his life.

  Last Wednesday, like most Muslims,  Idris was close to the mosque at about 6.30pm, waiting for the call to prayer. Fatigued and hungry, he was eager to break his fast as the sun was setting. Patiently, as the minutes ticked by, he stood on a dakali, an embankment of sorts, away from the hustle and bustle around Unguwar Kanawa central mosque. Nuhu Abdullahi, a delinquent, approached Idris and asked to buy his flashlight but the latter refused. Significantly, from different scraps, Idris cobbled the flashlight together and the almajiri, in spite of Nuhu’s offer, didn’t want to part with his innovation.

 Aged 15, Nuhu tried to wrest it out of Idris’ hand but the latter, according to reports, resisted and in anger, the rascal seized the almajiri, lifted him up and slammed him against the concrete. Wailing and writhing in pains, Nuhu jumped on his tummy. Instantly, he gave up the ghost and Nuhu took his heels.

  Significantly, a melee ensued but Rufa’i Umar, one of Idris’ teachers, lifted his pupil and headed for a chemist and the attendant, after a cursory look, directed them to the hospital. At Shifa, a neibhourhood hospital, the  nurses examined Idris, did a few tests and confirmed him  dead. Thereafter, Rufa’i raced to Malam Umar Shengel, the area’s Imam and reported the death to him. Together, they went to Alhaji Abba Kura, District Head of Unguwar Shanu who advised them to go to the police. The matter was duly reported and the police, according to Muhammad Sani Adamu,  administrative officer, Waff Road Mosque Forum, swung into action, went  to  Nuhu’s Makama road residence but met an empty house.

Afterwards, Malam Abdullahi, Nuhu’s father returned and met a hostile mob calling for his son’s head. Perplexed, he asked what was amiss and the father, after hearing the bad news, went to the new barracks police station, raining curses on his wayward son. Significantly, he was detained but just for a few hours.

Elsewhere, young men mobilised and mounted a manhunt for Nuhu. Their efforts paid off as they rounded him up and wanted to dispense jungle justice. However, the district head and a few elders intervened, placated tempers and pacified the mob and Nuhu was taken to the police station. Instantly, they traded places with his father as the latter regained his freedom while Nuhu was detained.

  Abdullahi, a second hand clothes dealer, hails from Nasarawa State and last Thursday, he narrated a litany of woes regarding his renegade son. Nuhu, according to him, dropped out of primary school and all entreaties  to make him return to school fell on deaf ears. Infact, when his father insisted, he ran away from home. Similarly, in spite of several  pleas, Nuhu refused to learn any trade, kept late nights, abused substances and often got into trouble. Specifically, two weeks ago, he stabbed someone in the eyes and the case, according to the police, is still pending.

  Last Thursday when Weekly Trust visited, a senior police officer confirmed both the incident and Nuhu’s arrest and detention at the police station. The accused,  according to him, has owned up to the crime but  the case, he further said, will be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department. Thereafter, because both the accused and the deceased are minors, the matter will be taken to a juvenile court.