Education Minister lauds Kano govt. efforts on murdered Hanifa case

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu, has applauded the Kano State government on steps taken to address the ugly incident of the death of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, killed by her teacher.

Adamu, who spoke through the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Mr Ben Goong, in Abuja on Wednesday, condemned the killing of Hanifa by her teacher, one Abdulmalik Tanko, who abducted her.

Adamu, however, said he is watching closely the development to ensure that true dispensation of justice on the accused is achieved.

Hanifa, until her death, was a pupil of Noble Kids Academy, located at Kwanar Dakata in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano.

"We are watching this national tragedy very closely and we are interested in seeing that justice is not only done, but explicitly seen as done.

"If a child cannot be safe in the hands of his or her teacher, where else can the child be safe.

"This is an assault on the entire teaching profession and must not be allowed to happen again.

"We sympathise with the parents of the innocent baby and pray that Allah consoles them in the best way possible," Adamu said.

It would be recalled that Hanifa was abducted on Dec. 4, 2021, by her teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, who has since been arrested by the police.

Tanko, who was charged for criminal conspiracy, concealing/keeping, kidnapping and confinement of a kidnapped person and culpable homicide, has, however, been remanded at a correctional centre.