The Police Command in Niger has arrested four suspects over the alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide of a village head in Munya local government area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Minna.
Abiodun said a distress call was received by Gwada Division from Fuka outstation at about 7 a.m. on August 23.
He said the call indicated that hoodlums had attacked Bawa Barde, 53, the Village Head of Zhilu, through Fuka District, Munya local government area.
According to him, police operatives mobilised to the scene and found Barde in a pool of blood behind his residence.
He said the victim sustained serious machete injuries all over his body following the attack.
The spokesperson 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 August 25 and 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, a 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.
The 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.
Source: NAN
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