BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in bursting a ritualist gang accused of removing the 2 eyeballs of a 16 years old Uzairu Salisu.
In what many residents have applauded as commendable efforts at reining in the perpetrators of this dastardly act, the Command said three of the suspects are currently cooling their feet in Police cell for being complicit in the crime.
According to the Command PPRO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Wakili, one Isaac Ezekiel a 32 years old man of Rafin Zurfi, Yelwa area of Bauchi was arrested in connection with the forceful removal of Uzairu’s two eyes
Wakili said also arrested in connection to the crime are Nensok Bawa, 38 years-old of Kabwir District in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State as well as Yohana Luka (AKA Doctor Samu), 52 years-old of Golbong Village, Amper District also of Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Command spokesman further stated that; “Sequel to the case of a suspected ritualist who plucked the eyes of a minor, during a terrifying incident which occurred in the Jira Mountains, Yelwa area of Bauchi metropolis, the suspect, Isaac Ezekiel, a 32-year-man of Rafin Zurfi, Yelwa, Bauchi metropolitan has been arrested and he voluntarily confessed to the unfortunate crime.
“A prompt search of his house by the Police led to the recovery of Uzairu’s eyeballs” .
Other exhibit recovered from the suspect include the two human eyeballs in a calabash, cable wire used in perpetrating the heinous act and a travelling bag containing some native medicine
The Police findings further revealed that “in April 2022, the Principal Suspect, Isaac Ezekiel conspired with the two other suspects to conceive the idea to commit the atrocity of getting the eyeballs of a human being.
“On 24th June 2022 at about 0900hrs, the principal suspect, Isaac Ezekiel lured one Uzairu Salisu, 16 years of Jahun, Bauchi metropolis into a nearby bush for a casual job on his farm, the Isaac Ezekiel used a cable wire to strangulate Uzairu Salisu into a coma and use a knife to remove the two eyeballs s for a ritual purpose.
“Investigation is in progress, after which the suspects will be charged to court in line with all relevant laws of the country in order to get justice.
“The task has not been an easy one, but in line with our constitutional mandate, we shall remain fierce, tireless, and relentless in committing ourselves to the safety and security of lives and property of the people of Bauchi state and the country at large”, the PPRO said.
He said the State Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda has assured the public of the Command’s commitment to protect them and therefore solicited the residents’ support in apprehending criminals across the length and breadth of Bauchi state.
“In furtherance of our commitment to steaming down crime and criminality, the Command has made adequate use of intelligence gathering towards continuous maintenance of law and order and this has yielded positively”, the Police boss said.
