Four relatives of village head arrested over his murder

By Yahaya Isah

Four suspects have been arrested over the alleged involvement in murder of Bawa Barde, the 53-year of the Village Head of Zhilu, in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

The suspects were identified as Zegi Dogari, 48, Kabulai; Danjuma Galadima, 50, Zhilu; Bashir Umar, 32, Kabulai; and John Doma, 35, Zhilu in a statement by Niger Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun issued on Sunday in Minna.

He said the suspects are all relatives of the murdered village head

Abiodun said the report of the killing of the village head was reported at the Gwada Division from Fuka outstation at about 7 a.m. on Aug. 23.

According to his statement, the report indicated that hoodlums had attacked Bawa Barde and subsequently police operatives mobilised to the scene and found him in a pool of blood behind his residence.

The Niger Police Command spokesperson said the victim sustained serious machete injuries all over his body following the attack.

He added that said preliminary investigation indicated that unidentified assailants attacked Barde inside his house at about 3 a.m. that day.

He added that the victim’s body was evacuated to a nearby medical facility, where he was confirmed dead.

Abiodun said further investigation led to the arrest of some suspects on Aug. 25 and Aug. 28 over their alleged involvement.

The suspects were identified as Zegi Dogari, 48, Kabulai; Danjuma Galadima, 50, Zhilu; Bashir Umar, 32, Kabulai; and John Doma, 35, Zhilu.

He said all four suspects were from Munya Local Government Area and had confessed to conspiring to attack the deceased.

According to Abiodun, the suspects said they attacked Barde because they were dissatisfied with his decision concerning a previous incident involving Umar.

He said investigation revealed that Barde had warned Umar, his cousin, to allow grazing routes through his farmland.

The spokesperson said the suspects subsequently conspired to attack Barde in his residence, where they allegedly macheted him to death.

Abiodun added that Galadima was the deceased’s brother, while Umar was his cousin and the other suspects were also related to him.

He said further investigation uncovered other underlying issues allegedly contributing to the attack, including an alleged affair involving Dogari.

“Dogari, an herbalist, was suspected of having an affair with the deceased’s wife, who was confronted and admitted to the allegation,” Abiodun said.

He said Dogari was subsequently instructed to pay a fine of N700,000, adding that the suspects claimed the issues culminated in Barde’s killing.

Niger Polce spokesperson said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation.

He added that they would soon be arraigned in court for the alleged offence of culpable homicide. (NAN)

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