Yobe Police Chief Mandates Investigations into Suspected Homicide, Child Abuse

The Commissioner of Police for Yobe State Command, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has initiated comprehensive investigations into two distinct and serious criminal matters. These cases involve an alleged murder and a separate incident of child cruelty, as confirmed by a press statement issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu Ali, in Damaturu on Friday, October 2.

The first case unfolded on September 30 when police operatives from the Garin-Alkali Division responded to a distress call. Their response led to the discovery of the lifeless body of Inusa Abdullahi, a farm worker originally from Kazaure, Jigawa State, dumped in a bush near Rini-Kunu Village within the Bursari Local Government Area. The deceased was subsequently transported to the Specialist Hospital, Gashua, where he was officially pronounced dead.

Preliminary inquiries suggest that Abdullahi’s death was a consequence of an accusation of water-pump generator theft, reportedly leveled against him by one Audu Auta. Auta is said to have reported the matter to a vigilante, Malah Muhammad Ibrahim, who, along with an accomplice identified as Abubakar Bulama, allegedly restrained and assaulted the labourer on a farm in an attempt to coerce a confession. Tragically, the victim succumbed to the injuries sustained during this ordeal. The Command confirmed that Ibrahim and Bulama have been arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation to ascertain the full scope of the incident and identify any other potential accomplices.

In a separate development, police operatives in Jakusko Local Government Area on October 1 apprehended Muktar Haruna, a 35-year-old Arabic teacher from Garin Baduku Village. Haruna, who hails from Hadejia LGA of Jigawa State, stands accused of chaining his nine-year-old pupil for a period of four months. His arrest was effected by officers of the Jakusko Division following an intelligence report detailing the abuse. The young victim has since been rescued and is currently receiving medical treatment at the General Hospital, Jakusko.

Commissioner of Police Jibrin strongly denounced both instances of jungle justice and the torture of vulnerable individuals. He issued a stern warning to residents, urging them to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead, promptly report all criminal activities to the police for appropriate action.