12-Year-Old Boy Kidnaps 3-Year-Old Girl For Ransom To Buy ‘Clothes, Phone’: Police

A 12-year-old boy in Bauchi, Nigeria, has been arrested for kidnapping a 3-year-old girl and then demanding money from her parents in exchange for her release.

Ahmad Wakil, the spokesman for the state police command, said in a statement Saturday that the 12-year-old kidnapped the toddler in the Magama Gumau community of Toro Local Government Area of the state, Ripples Nigeria reported. The names of both the suspect and the victim were not released.

The boy lured the victim to an isolated area, called the child’s father and demanded a 150,000 Nigerian naira ($340) ransom for her release, according to the spokesman.

“A discreet investigation revealed that the suspect lured the victim to an isolated place near a football field at Kara Area of Magama Gumau and called the victim’s father on phone and made the demand,” the police spokesperson stated, according to the outlet.

The victim’s father hung up the phone and refused to pick up the boy’s subsequent calls, the spokesman said.

At some point, the father called the suspect and was able to identify him because his voice was familiar. He called the 12-year-old by his name, which led to the boy staying silent and quickly hanging up the phone.

The boy then took the girl back to her home, claiming that he found the girl crying near a football field, according to the police spokesperson.

The family did not buy the story and immediately reported the actions of the 12-year-old to authorities, Wakil added.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and said he would have used the ransom money to buy clothes and phones,” Wakil stated.

Police learned during the investigation that the boy learned about kidnapping for ransom when his friend was kidnapped in the state of Kano “some time ago,” according to the spokesperson.

“Those who kidnapped his friend were paid ransom before he was released and that was how the suspect learned that money must be paid to set a kidnap victim free,” Wakil added.

In related news, a 12-year-old boy died in Jackson, Mississippi, this week after playing Russian Roulette.

According to deputy chief Deric Hearn, the game led to the death of Markell Noah, who was initially reported as missing but was later found at an abandoned house at 334 Audubon Place Friday night, WLBT reported.

Jackson police said they arrested two juveniles and a 21-year-old adult on the same day in connection with the boy’s death.

The juveniles are being charged with murder, while the adult is being charged with accessory after the fact of murder.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.