Quranic teacher arrested for abduction, abuse of Almajiri boys in Bauchi

Operatives of the Bauchi Police Command have arrested a 37-year-old Quranic teacher for allegedly abducting two Almajiri boys from Katsina, after luring them with false promises of financial support.

The suspect, identified as Abubakar Talba, an indigene of Hausari Dandal in Borno State, was arrested by detectives from the Gamawa Divisional Police Headquarters following a community complaint about Talba’s mistreatment of the boys under the guise of running a Quranic school.

Talba was said to have confessed during interrogation to luring one of the victims, 12-year-old Masaud Barau from Niger Republic, from a Quranic school in Kano with the false promise of helping him start a business.

A statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the Bauchi Police Command, SP Ahmed Wakil revealed that the suspect met the second victim, 13-year-old Ibrahim Jabiru from Katsina, in Daura, where he similarly promised to support him in selling flashlights and batteries.

The suspect was said to have taken the boys to Danbatta, where he allegedly started abusing one of them inside a mosque, before moving them to Udubo Village in Bauchi State, where the abuse continued.

Wakil stated further that the suspect will be charged in court after the investigation is completed, while calling on the public to provide any information that could help locate the parents or guardians of the victims.