The Bauchi State Police have arrested a 30 year old suspect who allegedly masterminded the killing of six corps members during the 2011 post election violence.
The suspect, according to the Police, led a group of youth who were armed with dangerous weapons to attack and kill the corp members who had served as adhoc staff of the presidential election.
The group was said to have allegedly attacked and injured a serving Policewoman who was rushed to the Federal Medical Center Azare but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
These were disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Auwal Muhammad, while parading the suspects during a press conference at the Command’s headquarters on Thursday.
He said that the suspect, Kabiru Musa AKA Dawa, was the ringleader of a gang which used petrol and ablaze a motor vehicle one Toyota Starlet belonging to Mr. Peter Okoye which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the violence.
According to him, the gang also attacked one Bridget, the wife of Mr. Peter Okoye and cut-off her fingers and burned down the Giade Police station which led to the gruesome murder of the six corps members who were at the station for safety.
“On 18th April 2011 between the hours of 12.30pm and 1.00pm, a group of youth led by one Kabiru Musa AKA Dawa stormed Giade Divisional Police Headquarters following the announcement of the 2011 Presidential Election result armed themselves with dangerous weapons which included a knife popularly called Barandami, cutlasses, sticks, petrol (PMS) and attacked F/No. 020827 W/PC. Rifkatu Bappa who was on counter duty at the charge room. As a result, she sustained various degree of injuries and was immediately evacuated to FMC Azare and confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
“Similarly, the said Dawa who was the Ringleader and his gang members used petrol (PMS) and set ablaze a motor vehicle one Toyota Starlet belonging to Mr. Peter Okoye which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the attack.
“In furtherance of this dastardly act, the said Dawa attacked one Bridget Peter Okeye wife of Mr. Peter Okoye cut-off her fingers, the set fire of the said Motor vehicle affected/burned down the station which led to the gruesome murder of six (6) corps members who were at the station for safety.
“They are:
1. Nkwazema Anslem with call-up no. NYSC/OWP/2010/127350, state code; BA/10B/1160 state of origin; Imo State.
2. Adewumi seun paul with call-up no. NYSC/OOU/2010/155553, state code; BA/10B/1301, state of origin; Ekiti State.
3. Okpokiri Obinna with call-up no. NYSC/AUU/2010/180200, state code; BA/10C/0950, state of origin; Abia
4. Teidi Olawale Tosin with call-up no. NYSC/ILR/2010/215976, state code; BA/10C/1220, state of origin; Kogi State.
5. Adewei Elliot with call-up no. NYSC/2011/0144144, state code; BA/11A/0274, state of origin; Bayelsa State.
6. Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor with call-up no. NYSC/UNN/2011/077160, state code; BA/11A/1354, state of origin; Imo State,” he said.
Furthermore, he said: “The above-mentioned corps members (May their soul rest in peace) tried to take to their heels while the said suspected killer (Dawa) alongside his syndicate run in pursued of the corps members to their various locations of refuge and gruesomely murdered them one after the other.
“The syndicate also attacked and broke into shops of traders and carted away valuables, further causing a breakdown of law and order.
After a manhunt for a decade, the Suspect has been arrested and investigation is ongoing, after the conclusion, he will be arraigned in court based on the findings of the investigation.”
The Police Boss said that interestingly, the same suspect (Dawa) in a related development, was arraigned before the court for a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
He said that the incident occurred on the 26th of April, 2024 at about 10.30am, when some water vendors who are inhabitants of Unguwar Tudun Maje Giade town discovered the decomposed body of an adult girl in a well situated in the same address.
“Following the discovery of the decomposed body, they reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters Giade, where the DPO drafted his men, visited the scene and removed the remains to General Hospital Giade and she was certified dead by a medical doctor.
“Subsequently, the DPO invited the residents to come forward for identification and she was identified as Aisha Mohammad, female (17) of Giade LGA, Bauchi State,” he said.
Muhammad said that during investigation, two people were accused and arrested in connection to the crime namely: Kabiru Musa (30) aka “Dawa” and Anas Adamu (31) all males of Giade LGA, Bauchi State.
He said that during interrogation, “the first defendant denied the allegation against him while the second accused freely confessed to the crime and confirmed that they killed the said (Aisha) and dumped her body into the well together with the said Dawa who happens to be his boss.”