In a shocking and heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, a 17-year-old secondary school student named Elijah Anthony has confessed to the gruesome murder of a five-year-old primary school pupil, Dawon Pam.
The horrifying incident has left the community in a state of shock and disbelief.
Elijah Anthony, who resided in close proximity to the victim’s family, revealed that his actions were driven by economic hardship.
He confessed, “Hardship and suffering were what prompted me to commit the crime. I later realised that the victim, who happened to be my neighbour, had already seen my face and might expose me if released.”
According to reports from Daily Trust, the suspect went on to narrate the chilling sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome.
“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 uncompleted building,” he explained.
The boy’s disappearance led to frantic searches by his parents and relatives. Anthony, displaying a chilling level of deceit, pretended not to know the whereabouts of the missing child and even joined in the search efforts.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom for the boy’s safe return.
However, tragically, five days later, Elijah Anthony took the life of the young boy.
He confessed to strangling him to death and burying his lifeless body.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Okoro Julius, shared further details of the case during a press conference, shedding light on the extent of the tragedy.
He revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a staggering sum of N5 million as ransom but eventually accepted N400,000.
The police were able to make a breakthrough in the case by tracking a phone number used for ransom negotiations.
“On 23/10/2023, one of the culprits, Elijah Anthony, 17 years old, was arrested. Upon interrogation, he admitted to having committed the crime,” Commissioner Julius stated.
This tragic incident has not only highlighted the grave consequences of economic hardship but has also raised concerns about the safety and security of communities in Plateau State.
The commissioner of police urged citizens to cooperate with the police to help eradicate criminal activities within the state.
In the past month, the police have made significant strides in combating crime, arresting 39 suspects and confiscating 11 fabricated rifles, seven locally-made pistols, and a cache of ammunition.
This horrifying incident serves as a somber reminder of the pressing need for societal support systems to address economic hardship and its potential consequences on vulnerable individuals.
The community now grapples with the overwhelming grief and shock of a young life cut tragically short, as the justice system prepares to take its course against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
