Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
Bauchi State Ministry of Justice has arraigned one Rabo Muhammadu of Guggu Village in Nabordo District of Toro Local Government Area of the State before Justice Aliyu Baba Usman of State High Court over alleged kidnap and rape of his neighbour’s wife several times.
Deputy Director of litigation, Sabiu A. Gumba told the court that the offence of kidnapping is contrary to Section 3 (1), punishable under Section 3 of the kidnapping and punishable under Section 11 of the kidnapping, theft of cattle and rape special provision law 2017.
In their separate statements before police investigators which were filed in the court by counsel to the husband of the kidnapped woman, Yusuf Lawan said gunmen numbering about three, armed with guns and dangerous weapons covered and abducted the wife.
They alleged that before carting away with her, the gunmen who covered their faces with veils demanded one million naira from the husband which he didn’t have. As a result, they kidnapped his wife to an unknown destination and dropped a line “09073602385” for negotiation.
Lawan said in the night of the incident he informed one Alhaji Dogo who advised him to wait until morning to go for a search. They searched everywhere when it was dawn but they didn’t see the woman, later they communicated with the kidnappers who reduced the money from one million to N500,000.
Yusuf said in the process of collecting the money, one of the accused was arrested and the rest ran away, and I know one of the kidnappers is our neighbour, he added.
The victim, Maryam Yusuf in her statement said she has four female children and when she was kidnapped, she was taken to Yuga forest where all the three kidnappers raped her severally.
She said she was able to identify one of the kidnappers who is their neighbour.
On their part, the investigator and a vigilante said when the kidnappers called Yusuf to take the N500, 000 to them they followed him.
“Two of the kidnappers stayed with the kidnapped victims and one of them, Rabo came out with his gun to collect the money.
“When Rabo understood he was surrounded by the police and vigilante, he fired a shot, but it was exploded. We then shot at him, and he fell. The remaining two ran away, and we took him to the police station.”
When the case was mentioned Wednesday, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the two-count charges and the presiding judge, Justice Aliyu Baba Usman adjourned the case to 8th March 2021 for trial.
