Police in Kakamega on Sunday arrested six teenagers over the murder of a nine-year-old boy who was kidnapped in Saturday and later found dead.
Ismael Shukkar, who disappeared on Saturday morning while going to attend Madrasa classes in a mosque in Kakamega town, was found dumped by a river near Shitungu village with his throat slit by a sharp object.
Reports indicate that the boy was allegedly kidnapped on his way back, his clothes changed and he was later handed over to a group of kidnappers who disappeared using an unknown vehicle.
Speaking to KTN News, Hawa Wafula, a family member explained, “It seems he used the back path that has few passersby. It is also possible that the kidnapper used drugs to distract the boy because Ishamel is very smart in the sense that he cannot remove his school uniform if asked to do so by a stranger.”
Kakamega county police commander Wilkister Vera revealed, “The mother reported that she received a call from an unknown person demanding a Ksh 50,000 ransom shortly after the boy had left home for madrasa classes.”
A downcast Hawa described her back and forth with one of the suspects who had taken them in circles since 9 am without giving them any helpful answers.
The cornered suspect eventually gave in to the demands and led the police to the site where the boy had been dumped.
The officer further explained that the said suspects were tracked by a phone they had used to demand ransom from the deceased's parents.
Reports by Citizen TV stated that the law enforcer also disclosed that the suspects were very young people, four of them aged 16, one aged 17 and another 18 years old.
Ishmael’s body was taken to Kakamega County Referral Hospital Mortuary. The police commander also appealed to the public to be vigilant and watch over their children.
Video courtesy of KTN News.
