By Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse
Police in Jigawa State are questioning a 40-year-old local tea seller, Abdulrashibu Ya’u, for killing a young man with stick on the suspicion of consistently pilfering his tea materials.
Jigawa Police Spokesperson, Lawan Shishu Adam, a DSP, who confirmed the development in a statement said the incident took place on August 19, in Sararai village, Jigawar Tsada town in Dutse Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
Adam said that the arrest followed a petition from the village head of Sararai that disclosed that the tea vendor has seriously beaten up one 20-year-old Hassan Garba of the same address and became unconscious based on the allegation of stealing his bread, milk, noodles and petrol.
The suspect, who justified his action, told reporters that he had always been experiencing the theft of his materials, prompting him to lay siege to enable him catch the the person stealing his materials.
According to the tea vendor: “They’ve been stealing my tea materials from my shop. So, in this day, I decided to sleep in my shop to see who had been doing that to me. Luckily for me, I caught the thief who has been doing that to me. So, I beat him with a stick after tying him. But three days later, I now learnt that he has passed on.”
But the Police Spokesperson said: “Upon receiving the report, the patrol team promptly proceeded to the scene, arrested the suspect and conveyed the victim to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital for immediate medical attention.
“Regretfully, on their arrival, the medical doctor on duty certified him dead. The corpse was examined photographed and later released to his relatives for burial according to Islamic rite.
“The suspect admitted during questioning at the State Criminal Investigation Department Dutse that the deceased had upset him by stealing his goods to the point where he had informed his parents about it, but nothing had been done. Upon apprehending the deceased at this point, he made the decision to tie him with a rope and begin striking him with a stick in secret.”
“Neighbours in the area heard the deceased’s cries for help, but they were unable to save him until police officers showed up.
“On completion of discreet investigation, the suspect will be diligently arraigned in court to face the full weight of the law.”