A 45-year-old farmer, Garba Abdullahi, has died after he was allegedly attacked with machetes and knives by four men who accused him of causing the illness of a resident in Bauchi State.
The deadly incident occurred at about 11:40am on Tuesday as Abdullahi was returning from his farm in Dunari Village, Atahowa District.
The Bauchi State Police Command said the four suspects allegedly confronted the farmer and accused him of being responsible for the illness of one Sawaida Dahiru.
According to the police, the suspects attacked Abdullahi, stabbing and cutting him on different parts of his body until he was left unconscious.
The victim’s 35-year-old younger brother reported the attack at the Gadau Divisional Police Headquarters at about 12:35pm.
Police operatives reportedly rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured farmer to the General Hospital, Azare, for treatment.
He was, however, pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
His corpse was subsequently released to his relatives for burial.
The police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, identified the suspects as Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19.
All four suspects have been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for further investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killing and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
Aliyu expressed concern over what he described as cases of jungle justice and self-help allegedly fuelled by superstitious beliefs.
He stressed that nobody had the right to take another person’s life under any guise.
The command urged residents to report suspected cases and disputes to the police rather than resorting to violence, while appealing for credible information that could help prevent similar incidents.
