Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested an Arabic teacher, working with Muhawshat Primary School, Jalingo, Taraba State, for allegedly killing his nine-year-old pupil, Sudais Umar Yola, on Monday.
Sudais, son of a prominent Jalingo-based businessman, got missing on Sunday night when he went for Magrib prayer in a mosque near his father’s house at Nana Aisha area of Jalingo.
When Sudais did not return home after the prayers, a search party was organised.
A friend of Sudais was said to have told his parents how the Arabic teacher, Hashiru, a few days before he went missing, had been asking people about Sudais’s movement. Hashiru also allegedly tried to find out about the movement of Sudais’ siblings.
A source said: “When people heard that the Arabic teacher had been asking questions about the boy’s movement and that of his siblings, the search party moved to his house. The search party went to ask Hashiru if he knew the whereabouts of the deceased. Hashiru initially denied ever seeing the victim, but when officials of DSS were invited, the victim confessed that he was the one who strangled the boy. Hashiru led the security operatives to a compound where he dumped the corpse of the nine-year-old.”
During further interrogations, Hashiru reportedly disclosed that two other men, aged 19 and 20, were involved in the boy’s murder.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP David Misal, said the incident occurred directly behind DSS office in Jalingo. He added that the matter was being handled by the DSS and yet to be transferred to the police.
A senior DSS operatives, who didn’t want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident. The DSS source added: “Investigation into the matter is in progress. All those arrested in connection with the murder of the boy will be charged to court after investigations.”
Since the murder of the Sudais, thousands of sympathisers have been trooping to his father’s residence to condole with the family. The deceased was his father’s favourite and had travelled with his dad to Saudi Arabia on holy pilgrimage.