After demanding ransom, secondary school student kidnaps and murders 5-year-old boy

Elijah Anthony, a 17-year-old high school student, has given an explanation for his actions in killing Dawon Pam, a five-year-old elementary school kid, in the Bukuru community in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The victim’s neighbour turned suspect admitted to killing the youngster due to financial difficulties.

“I was motivated to do the crime by hardship and suffering. It dawned on me later that the victim, who also happened to be my neighbour, had previously seen my face and could potentially expose me if she was freed.

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He stated, “On the 13th of this month (October), my friend and I planned and kidnapped the boy while he was moving around and we hid him in an unfinished building,” narrating how they killed the victim.

“The boy’s parents and other family members began looking for him as soon as they realised he was missing. I act as though I have no idea where he is. I even helped look for him. Five days after we requested the money, I killed the boy. The suspect said, “I buried him after strangling him to death.

State Commissioner of Police Okoro Julius claimed the suspect had collected N400,000 in ransom before killing the victim while parading him with 36 other suspects. He also said the police were able to apprehend the culprit after tracing a phone number that was used to negotiate the ransom.

The CP further stated that the kidnappers had previously requested a ransom of N5 million, but they were only able to obtain NN400,000. The CP further stated that a group of police officers under the command of SP Okala Ugbede immediately moved to locate the kidnappers after receiving the report.

One of the perpetrators, 17-year-old Elijah Anthony, was taken into custody on October 23, 2023. He acknowledged committing the crime during questioning, he said.

The police commissioner announced that in the past month, the command had taken 39 individuals into custody, found eleven fake rifles, seven locally manufactured handguns, and ammunition. He also urged the public to work with law enforcement to clear the state of criminals.