As Nigerians seek justice for Hanifa Abubakar, a five-year-old girl kidnapped and killed by her teacher, the family of Yusuf Nasir, a seven-year-old boy who went missing in 2020 narrates their ordeal.

In an interview with FIJ on Sunday, Halima Nasir, Yusuf’s sister, spoke on behalf of the family. “Yusuf went missing on December 28, 2020, after his return from Islamiyah (Islamic school),” she said.  

The boy, as FIJ would learn, attended the same Islamiyah with the late Hanifa. Unlike the latter who was kidnapped on her way from school, Yusuf was seen at home but went missing that same day.

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“When he came back, he put off his uniform and wore a cardigan before exiting to join his peers outside the house,” said Halima. “A lot of people said they saw him playing around the house, but his whereabouts, up till today, remains a mystery.”

“What do I have to say? The pain of losing one’s relative cannot be explained,” Halima said, hoping the young boy returned home safely. 

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FIJ learned that Noble Kids School, where Hanifa was kidnapped, was located on Mamman Zubairu Street, and it is just a few minutes walk to Yusuf’s house. Though Yusuf’s father went to the police station yesterday, the police, according to the family, have not found anything yet.

Hanifa was killed by Abdulmalik Tanko, her school proprietor, after pocketing N100,000 out of the N6 million ransom he requested. He confessed to the police that he poisoned Hanifa’s food after some staff members of the school visited him in search of the teenager.