Esther allegedly led the two girls to a nearby maize farm, where she unlawfully ended their lives with a machete before fleeing the scene.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 19-year-old Esther Gambo for allegedly kidnapping a newborn and murdering two seven-year-old girls.
Police spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, said Gambo, from Lemoro Village in Toro LGA, lured Khadija Sama’ila and A’isha Dahiru from Unguwan Sarkin Yaki Village.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Esther obtained a newborn female child belonging to Nafisa Dahiru. She then led the girls to a nearby maize farm and killed them with a machete before fleeing,” Wakil said.
Police recovered the bodies and rescued the kidnapped child. The incident triggered violent protests among local youths, including the burning of churches and an attempt to torch the Tulu Police Station.
Sixteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the unrest.
Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killings and the retaliatory violence, urging the public to uphold the rule of law.
He assured that a full investigation is ongoing and urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.