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 Aug. 23, reporting that hoodlums had attacked Bawa Barde, 53, the Village Head of Zhilu through Fuka District, Munya LGA.
He said police operatives mobilised to the scene and found Barde in a pool of blood behind his residence, with serious machete injuries all over his body.
According to him, preliminary investigation indicated that unidentified assailants attacked Barde inside his house at about 3 a.m. that day. His body was evacuated to a nearby medical facility, where he was confirmed dead.
Abiodun said further investigation led to the arrest of four suspects on Aug. 25 and Aug. 28 over their alleged involvement in the killing.
The suspects were identified as Zegi Dogari, 48, of Kabulai; Danjuma Galadima, 50, of Zhilu; Bashir Umar, 32, of Kabulai; and John Doma, 35, of Zhilu.
He said the suspects, all from Munya LGA, confessed to conspiring to attack the deceased, claiming they were dissatisfied with his decision concerning a previous incident involving Umar.
According to Abiodun, Barde had warned Umar, his cousin, to allow grazing routes through his farmland, after which the suspects allegedly conspired to attack him at his residence.
He said investigation also uncovered other underlying issues allegedly linked to the attack, including an alleged affair involving Dogari, a herbalist, and the deceased’s wife.
“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 added that Dogari was subsequently instructed to pay a fine of N700,000, noting that the suspects claimed the issues contributed to Barde’s killing.
The spokesperson said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and would soon be arraigned in court for the alleged offence of culpable homicide.
