The Gombe State Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Oqua Etim, has achieved various successes in fighting crimes with the arrest of fifteen suspects in the state.
The Police Public Relations of the Command, Assistant Superintendant of Police, ASP Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, said the suspects were being paraded in connection with crimes of armed robbery, rape, culpable homicide, theft as well as criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
ASP Abubakar said the culpable homicide, which happened on August 3, involved 22-year-old Salisu Lawan of Panda village of Kumo, Akko Local Government Area, using a pestle hit the complainant, 22-year-old Mohammed Usman’s father, 65-year-old Usman Bello on the head on the allegation of witchcraft.
“… and the victim fell down unconsciously where he was rushed to General Hospital Kumo, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” ASP Abubakar said.
He is concerned that cases of murder were being reported and linked to witchcraft, where people alleged seeing others in their dreams and concluding that they were responsible for their plight and subsequently leading to the killing of the suspected witch.
The Police PRO said there was another case linked to witchcraft involving an old man, who sought the assistance of a young man to help him cross a stream but was equally attacked with a plank by the young man and his body dumped in a river.
ASP Abubakar said CP Etim and the Police frown on such acts and directed that members of the public should desist from carrying out such acts because the issue of witchcraft is not in the law.
“And you cannot do what we call trying by ordeal, bringing somebody, taking him to herbalists that he must confess that he is a wizard. That is trial by ordeal and is not known in the law. Where it is known is when the person confesses by himself that yes, I am this. That law can work on him and we know what to do with him,” ASP Abubakar said.
He called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to preach against trial by ordeal because it was a serious offence, which could land the person that committed it or any party involved in the case in court.
Speaking with Journalists during his parade, the suspect, Salisu Lawan said he did not know how the incident occurred when he hit the deceased with the pestle until he was informed in the morning that he had committed murder because he had slept since 7 am that faithful day till 7:30 PM.
Lawan pleaded for mercy, saying he did not know when the act was carried out in the Mosque until he was informed about it.
He said he was told that he kept calling the deceased man’s name in his sleep, as the one who was responsible for inflicting the sickness on him, but that he did not know when he attacked him.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Oqua Etim, has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any information that may lead to the arrest of criminal elements.
Another crime being recorded in the state was the case of criminal conspiracy, mischief, and theft, where three suspects, identified as Mohammed Ajuji, Usman Saidu, and Amir Mohammed on August 1, at approximately 1:30 am, were apprehended by the Billri Division Patrol team.
The suspects were arrested in connection to a case of vandalization and theft of a transformer belonging to Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC, valued at 2, 313 million naira.
The Gombe State PPRO said upon interrogation, all three suspects confessed to the crime and will be charged accordingly.
Another significant arrest was in the case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit culpable homicide, which took place on August 3, 2023, at about 1:00 pm, when a distress call was received from the district head of Kulani village, Balanga Local Government Area.
It was a case of a 70-year-old man, Adamu Bako of Kwangu-Kulani village in Balanga LGA, who was reportedly attacked with a Dane gun on August 1, 2023, at about 7:40 PM, causing him to sustain bullet wounds on his back and buttocks.
Police detectives from Balanga Division visited the crime scene and subsequently rushed the victim to Dr Fosa Clinic Bambam for medical attention.
According to ASP Abubakar, investigations led to the arrest of six suspects, who had been charged for their involvement in the crime.
“The suspects are Umaru Adamu (30), Yahuza Adamu (25), Zubairu Saidu (20), Yusuf Isah (23), Abdullahi Idris (20), and Aminu Abdullahi (26) alias Nerjama.”
He said all the suspects, who were from Kulani village had voluntarily confessed to the crime and were currently awaiting trial., saying three Dane guns were recovered as exhibits from the suspects.
“The police will continue to investigate the incident to ensure that justice is served.” He added.
PIAK
