Four people have been arrested for allegedly torturing a suspected watermelon thief to death in Bauchi, the Police has said.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a media statement made available to journalists in the State

He said that the deceased was caught after allegedly stealing seven watermelons valued at N2,000 from a summer farm in Dallaji Village, Tudin Wada Ward in Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Wakil, a Superintendent of Police said: “On the 29^th March 2023 at about 10.00am, one Ado Sanya, male (40) of Dallaji village Tudun Wada Ward, Warji LGA, reported at Warji Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date at about 1.20am, one Ibrahim Hashimu, male, criminally trespass into the farmland of one Mohammed Garba, male, of the same address and stole some watermelons.

“His hands were tied with a rope and beaten with sticks by Mohammad Daluta, (24); Ibrahim Mahmud (22); Bashir Mahmud (18); 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 General Hospital Warji for medical attention where they referred to the Cottage Hospital, Gwaram LGA, Jigawa State, where he was certified dead by the 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.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, while reacting to the incident, frowned at the action of the suspects, who, instead of reporting the case to the Police for proper investigation and prosecution, took the law into their hands.

“He however directed that the case be transferred to criminal investigation department Bauchi, for discreet investigation and assured members of the public that justice will be served accordingly,” he assured.

Similarly, the PPRO said that on March 24, 2023 at about 10.09pm, some unknown persons, trespassed into the house of one Abdu Muhammadu, male (30) of Dasare village, Tarbuwa Ward in Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi State and shot him with a bow and arrow on his chest.

He said that as a result, he sustained serious injuries; adding that having received intelligence of the incident on March 26, 2023 around 12.30am, Police Operatives attached to Zaki Divisional headquarters led by the Divisional Police Officer, rushed to the scene and evacuated the victim to Federal Medical Centre, Azare for immediate medical treatment, where he was certified dead by the medical doctor.

Wakil said that during the investigation, the Command arrested one Sambo Adamu, male (22) of the same address, in connection with the case, and he voluntarily confessed his culpability.

The Police Spokesman said that efforts have been intensified to explore more facts in the incident in order to arrest the remaining suspects adding however, that investigation is ongoing. (The PUNCH)

•The Culprits

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