The Commissioner of Police, Yobe State Command, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has ordered a thorough investigation into two separate cases of alleged murder and child cruelty in the state, with three suspects in custody.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Adamu Ali, in Damaturu on Friday.
According to the Command, its operatives uncovered the lifeless body of a farm worker, Inusa Abdullahi from Kazaure in Jigawa State, dumped in the bush near Rini-Kunu Village, Bursari Local Government Area, following a distress call received by the Garin-Alkali Division on September 30.
Police detectives evacuated the corpse to the Specialist Hospital, Gashua, where he was certified dead.
“Investigations showed that Abdullahi’s death followed an accusation of water-pump generator theft levelled against him by one Audu Auta.
“Auta was said to have reported the matter to a vigilante, Malah Muhammad Ibrahim, who, with an accomplice, Abubakar Bulama, allegedly tied up and beat the labourer on a farm in a bid to force a confession.
“The victim died in the process.
“Ali said Ibrahim and Bulama have been arrested and are being interrogated to unravel the full circumstances and possible involvement of other persons,” the Command said.
Similarly, in Jakusko LGA, the police on October 1 arrested a 35-year-old Arabic teacher, Muktar Haruna of Garin Baduku Village, for allegedly chaining his nine-year-old pupil for four months.
Haruna, who hails from Hadejia LGA of Jigawa State, was picked up by operatives of the Jakusko Division following an intelligence report on the abuse.
The victim has been rescued and is receiving medical attention at the General Hospital, Jakusko.
The State Commissioner of Police, Kanfani Jibrin, while condemning jungle justice and the torture of vulnerable persons, warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and urged them to promptly report criminal acts to the police.