How Two Suspects Kidnapped Friend To Collect Father’s Gratuity, Murdered Him After Plan Backfired

Two persons Hamim Auwalu, 26, and Ashiru Muhammad, 24, have been arrested by operatives of the Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for alleged murder.

The suspects were alleged to have been involved in the murder of a victim identified as Tahir Adamu Hassan of Gida Dubu Yadi, Dutse LGA, Jigawa State.

Their arrest was confirmed in a statement issued by the spokesman of the command, ASC Badaruddeen Muhammad.

He said their arrest was prompted by a complaint lodged by the father of the victim, who reported at the NSCDC Divisional Office, Dutse, that on Saturday, March 2, 2024, his son Tahir left home but didn’t return.

“However, before leaving home, he told his mother that he was going to his friend’s shop to do some carpentry work for him.

“Thereafter, all efforts to reach him via his phone proved abortive, as the phone was switched off.

“Upon receipt of the information, NSCDC personnel swung into action, tracked down the friends who called him and brought them to the command for interrogation”, the statement noted.

The suspects according to the PRO, confessed to having killed their friend.

“According to their confession, they intended to kidnap him and contact his family for ransom after knowing that his retired father had received his retirement benefits.

“However, they took him to a Pure Water Factory (MJ Namaliya) at the same address, but later they realised their mistake and decided to kill him to avoid being arrested afterwards. They allegedly used an axe and stones to kill him and thereafter buried his remains in the table water factory.

“Subsequently, on March 6, 2024, the NSCDC investigation team, drawn from the Intelligence and Investigation and Medical units, as well as medical personnel from Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital Dutse and the relatives of the victim, went to the crime scene, where the body was exhumed.

“But before the body was handed over to the family for burial, it was taken to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital Dutse for full-scale medical examinations to ascertain the true cause of his death.

“The suspects have been arraigned in court for prosecution.”