The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman Sanda, has said the case of a former Bauchi Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Damina, who was accused of killing his friend, Adamu Babanta, is not an outright murder case.

The CP, who briefed journalists on the case on Monday at the police headquarters in Bauchi, said the clarification was due to recent public narratives on the matter.

The police boss said findings established that the suspect was a neighbour to the deceased and had called the daughter on phone and arranged to meet her at a junction near Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) gate, Yelwan Tudu market, Bauchi.

“The father of Khadija who is now deceased met them at that point, though they were not together inside the suspect’s vehicle or in any sort of compromised position, rather, she was standing with the motorcycle rider that brought her to the location.

“Then her father, now deceased, went straight to the occupant of the vehicle (Mohammed Damina), and both of them started exchanging heated words to a point where the father, now deceased, started shouting “barawo-barawo” (thief-thief). This was confirmed by an eyewitness: the daughter, her senior brother and the suspect. The implication of this was to attract mob action from bystanders and passersby.”

“In the process, the accused attempted to start his vehicle with the intention of zooming off and evading a public escalation of the situation, including possible mob action, but the deceased suddenly opened the vehicle’s door from the driver’s side.

“Notwithstanding, the accused engaged his vehicle and accelerated while the father of Khadija still clung to the car door. As a result, he was dragged to a certain distance, when he fell off, thereby hitting his head on the pavement of the road with impact.

“The victim was rushed to the ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for treatment, but was unfortunately confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”

The police chief called on media practitioners not to relent in their commitments by ensuring global best practice of ethical investigative journalism. (Daily Trust: Text, excluding headline)

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