A 15-year-old boy, Umar Sa’adu Moba, was allegedly killed by three men who lured him into the bush and handed him over to a suspected kidnapping kingpin in Katsina State.
The incident reportedly occurred in Labo village, Batsari Local Government Area of the state.
According to an account contained in a viral video circulating on social media, the three suspects: Abdullahi Ali, Mahammadu Ali and Mahammadu Sani, allegedly lured the teenager, who was from Jibia Local Government Area, into the bush before handing him over to a suspected kidnap kingpin identified as Kachalla Abu.
The suspected kidnap kingpin allegedly collected N70 million in ransom before releasing the boy alive.
The three men were reportedly given N17 million as their share of the ransom and instructed to return the teenager to his relatives.
However, the suspects allegedly decided to kill the boy out of fear that he would identify them and expose their involvement in his abduction.
The account further stated that, following an agreement with the boy’s family for his release, the suspected kidnap kingpin, identified as Commander, was contacted over the matter.
He allegedly disclosed the role played by the three men and subsequently devised a plan to lure them back under the pretext of giving them additional money from the ransom proceeds.
When the suspects reportedly arrived, they were apprehended and allegedly killed after the kingpin made a public confession in a video that subsequently went viral on social media.
The teenage victim and the three suspects were all said to be from Jibia Local Government Area, while the incident took place in Labo village, Batsari Local Government Area.
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported killing, including the identities and status of those responsible for the deaths of the suspects, could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
Further details from security agencies are awaited to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
