Four people have been arrested for allegedly torturing a suspected watermelon thief to death in Bauchi State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this on Friday in a statement made available to journalists.
He said the deceased was caught for allegedly stealing seven watermelons valued at N2,000 from farm in Dallaji village, Tudin Wada ward, in the Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said, “On March 29, 2023, around 10am, one Ado Sanya (40), of Dallaji village, Tudun Wada ward, Warji LGA, reported at Warji Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date, around 1.20am, one Ibrahim Hashimu criminally trespassed into the farmland of one Mohammed Garba, of the same address and stole some watermelons.
“His hands were tied with a rope as he was beaten with sticks by Mohammad Daluta (24); Ibrahim Mahmud (22); Bashir Mahmud (18); and Abdullahi Mahmud (22); all males of the same address.
“On receiving the report, a team of detectives was quickly drafted to the scene and evacuated the victim to Warji General Hospital for medical attention, from where they were referred to the Cottage Hospital, Gwaram LGA, Jigawa State, where he was certified dead by a medical doctor.
“An investigation commenced in earnest and preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, Ibrahim Hashimu, trespassed into a summer farm and stole seven pieces of watermelon fruit, valued at N2,000.
“In the process of taking away the stolen items, the owner of the farm caught him on the spot. He then conspired with others and beat him with sticks. As a result, he sustained an internal injury which led to his death.
“Consequently, all the above four suspects were successfully arrested and an investigation is still ongoing to explore all the intricacies surrounding the case.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, while reacting to the incident, accused the suspects of taking the law into their hands.
He directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for discreet investigation.
Similarly, the police spokesperson said on March 25, 2023, around 10.09pm, some unknown persons trespassed into the house of a 30-year-old man, Abdu Muhammadu, and shot him with a bow and arrow in the chest.
He said policemen attached to the Zaki divisional headquarters, led by the Divisional Police Officer, rushed to the scene and evacuated the victim to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, where he was certified dead.
Wakil said during investigation, the command arrested a 22-year-old man, Sambo Adamu, in connection with the case, and he voluntarily confessed to the crime.
The police spokesman said efforts had been intensified to arrest other members of the gang.
