The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four men over the alleged killing of a 45-year-old farmer, Garba Abdullahi, who was accused of causing the illness of a resident, Sawaida Dahiru.
The suspects were identified as Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19, according to the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib.
Habib, in a statement on Wednesday, said Abdullahi was attacked at about 11:40am while returning from his farm in Dunari Village, Atahowa District, Bauchi State.
He said the suspects allegedly confronted the farmer and accused him of being responsible for Dahiru’s illness before attacking him with knives and machetes.
According to the police spokesman, the victim sustained injuries on different parts of his body and was left unconscious after the attack.
Habib said Abdullahi’s 35-year-old younger brother subsequently reported the incident at the Gadau Divisional Police Headquarters at about 12:35pm on Tuesday, prompting police operatives to move to the scene.
He added that the injured farmer was taken to the General Hospital, Azare, where a doctor later pronounced him dead. His remains were subsequently released to his relatives for burial.
The four suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution, while the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killing and warned residents against jungle justice and taking the law into their own hands.
